Election 2026: Sheriff Candidate Danny Libka

Continuing with our “Election: 2026” series, this edition of our candidate interviews features Sheriff Candidate Danny Libka. Leading up to the primaries, we will continue to release candidate interviews in order to keep you well educated as you make your way to the ballot box.

Publisher's Note: The Washington County Times does not endorse political candidates. Our mission is to provide balanced and informative coverage of local politics so our readers can make their own informed decisions at the ballot box. We aim to give all candidates a fair opportunity to share their views and connect with the community. This Q&A is part of that commitment to open, unbiased political reporting.

Danny Libka

1. Can you speak on your background in law enforcement?

“When I was 21 years old, Bruce Gray was the sheriff for Washington County, and he put me on as a reserve officer,” said Danny Libka. “Since then, I have worked for a total of seven different sheriffs, so that adds up to a total of about 43 years. I did put my name on the ballot [for sheriff] a time before. At that time, unfortunately, three of the former sheriffs died right in a row. They were the first ones I ever worked for, and it really took the wind out of my sails honestly.”

2. What inspired you to run for Sheriff of Washington County?

“I love Washington County. I just genuinely like people, and I want to do things to help people,” said Libka. “Law enforcement is something that can be very rewarding. Things have changed a lot since I first started as a reserve in 1982 compared to now. However, people are people. I think you can reason with people, and that badge doesn’t make you anything more than a law enforcement officer. You’re there to help serve and protect people. I know that sounds kind of cliche, but that’s the bottom line. I want to do all I can to help people, and I always have. Until I’m six feet under, that’s what I am going to try to do.”

3. What do you believe are the most important leadership qualities in a Sheriff, and how have you demonstrated those in your career?

“I feel you have to lead by example,” he said. “I’d never ask somebody to do something that I was unwilling to do myself. Over the years, I have been in many different situations. I have treated everyone fairly, and I’m consistent. People want to be treated with respect. I don’t demand respect, I want to earn or gain your respect in anything I’ve ever done. I am a hard worker, I’m honest, sincere, and genuine. There are a lot of things involved with being sheriff other than going out on patrols.

“There are a lot of functions that go along with the sheriff’s department,” he continued. “Number one, you have a large staff. You’ve got deputies, jailers, and dispatchers. You also need to work with other departments and officials. You’ve got the probation department, judges, prosecutor’s office, and fire and emergency personnel. All of us have to work together. There is no ‘I’ in the word 'team'. If you can’t get along with your employees, and have them respect you, you don’t need the job. I feel I am a leader. I like the job. I don’t want it just so I can be called sheriff. I want to be your sheriff. I want to be able to go to a restaurant and have people approach me. Not because of anything other than respect. I want them to know they can trust me, and that I’ll help them in good times and bad times. People make mistakes. That does not mean they’re a bad person.

“Throughout my career, I have met a lot of people,” added Libka. “I have many friends. I’m sure there are some people that don’t like me, but that wasn’t my choice. I did not do anything to offend anybody on purpose. If I have, and if they approach me, I’ll make it right. This is a good community. My dad was a people person. He was a farmer, mail carrier, and a preacher. He was a workaholic. I like to work. If I am elected sheriff of Washington County, it won’t be an eight hour day. It’s a 24 hour day. Now, I’m not saying I won’t go home and sleep at night, but I don’t know what time that will be. And nobody is going to know when I’m out either. I want to be able to assist the deputies that go on a call. I want them to know that I’ve got their backs, too. Also, that’s a big administrative position. That’s a big budget you have to contend with, and I feel like I can do that. The sheriff also has to maintain the vehicles to make sure they’re safe for the employees. I will have an open-door policy. I am going to be accessible. There are also budget hearings, commissioner and council meetings, and things like that. I want to go to each one of those to know what is going on. Also, I want them to know there will be 100% transparency. I will work with surrounding counties. Anywhere that is needed, I will be there.”

4. If elected, what would be your top priorities as Sheriff?

“One of the big things is that I want to get one of the officers into the local schools. I know we have resource officers, but I’m talking about a training officer that will go in,” Libka stated. “We have a very large drug problem. Not just in Washington County, but in the nation. That has changed so much over the years. I want to try to get these young people educated while they’re still young. You cannot wait until they get to be an adult. It is so much harder to do that. That is one of the things I am going to do. I will also have a department that is PR (public relations) related. I am going to have monthly meetings. 48 months make up a 4 year term. Meaning, there will be a minimum of 48 m settings. So where are they going to be? They will be in Hardinsburg, Campbellsburg, Little York. I want people to come to me and let me know what I can do with the department we have to better serve them. I want the officers involved in clubs and organizations because you build friendships. When you do that, people know that they can approach you with an issue, and they know that you are going to try to help them. If I get to be the sheriff of Washington County, the people that didn’t vote for me will say, ‘I wish I had voted for the man because he does what he says.’”

5. How do you plan to strengthen relationships between law enforcement and the communities you serve?

“There are a lot of roads in the county that are never traveled by law enforcement,” Libka said. “There are little cutoff roads that, even in all of my years, I have only been down a few times. But visibility is a deterrent to crime. I want people to be able to look out their window and say, ‘there went the sheriff’s department.’ Whether they are on a call or not, I want people to know that we are there. The officers are not going to be sitting in that office if they don’t have paperwork. They are going to be out. They are going to let you know that you’ve got protection. Now, can I solve every crime in the world? I can’t do it. I don’t have that power. But, I am going to work as hard as I can to help the crime situation. Like I said, I like people, and I don’t want anybody to not be able to approach me at any time – within reason of course. I still have people that I’ve arrested stop by my house, and we’re friends now. They tell me, ‘You helped me. You were good to me.’ Again, I can’t solve everything in the world. I can’t make it all better. But, I want to work with the council, commissioners, and all aspects of people in this county. I want to have what I call a blockwatch. I want to get with people who are genuine, who care, and I want them to give us a call when they see something suspicious. I want people to call the sheriff’s department when they plan to go on vacation. Why? Because we’re going to keep more of an eye on that property for you. When people are gone, the wrong people know about it, and that’s when things can happen.”

6. What steps will you take to ensure that deputies are held to high professional and ethical standards?

“I’m going to lead by example. I’m going to tell them the very first rule I have: don’t ever lie to me,” he said. “It’s like your child. Whenever they lie to you for the first time, it’s kind of human nature. I get it. But if they lied to you, then you question the next time something is questionable. But if you always tell me the truth, I’ll have your back. Again, people make mistakes. You have to let me know what you did, and we will address it. Will there be repercussions? It all depends on what it is, of course. And again, I gain respect. When I do that, the department will follow suit.”

7. How would you handle a crisis or controversy if elected as Sheriff? For instance, the bombs that were planted on bridges around the county decades ago.

“Well, number one, if that is the same scenario, naturally, my deputies will block roads,” remarked Libka. “The Washington County Sheriff’s Department does not have anybody that is a certified bomb technician. You would need to get with state or even federal agencies to conduct that. But the safety of Washington County would be my number one concern. They’re going to be aware of it. It will be publicized. You have to let people know what’s going on. They need to trust you. They need to listen to what is said and say, ‘Danny’s out there. He’s got me covered.’ The people that do know me know that is a fact. On the controversial side of things, if something were to happen in my department, my department will not be the one to investigate it. There is going to be an outside agency. That way, you take out the scenario of showing favoritism and things of that nature. My friends make mistakes. I make mistakes. Everybody does. There is only one man that walked the face of the earth that didn’t make mistakes, but people persecuted him. I’ve always believed don’t throw stones if you live in a glass house. People make bad choices, but we have to be held to a higher standard.”

8. What do you believe sets you apart from your opponents in this race?

“I am an easy going person. I like people, and I want to do the best I can. Again, I’m not running for me. I am running for the people of Washington County. I know that I can do good things for them. I will earn their trust, and I will do everything I can within my physical power to be proud of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department. That trickles out to other agencies. There are certain times that people go to a situation in law enforcement with a little chip on their shoulder. Other people are going to try to knock it off sometimes. You get more done with honey than you do vinegar. But some people can’t be reasoned with because they’re so intoxicated or on drugs. But you don’t go in just wanting to throw cuffs on them. Try to talk to them. Have a little compassion. Again, I lead by example,” said Libka.

9. Do you have any final thoughts you’d like to leave with our readers?

“I have been very fortunate over the years,” he stated. “I was at one time the vice president of a bank, I have been the county coroner, and I have been on the city council for 18 years now. There have been situations where the people that elected me have made requests. I listen to that. I vote by the majority providing it is ethical, legal, and things of that nature. I feel that’s the right thing to do in my heart. That’s what I will do as sheriff of Washington County as well. I’m not going to make snap decisions. At times, you have to step back. It’s like whenever you get made sometimes, you have to count to ten or even one hundred before you make a decision. There are moments in law enforcement where you don’t have that time to count to ten. You’ve got to be right the first time. If you’re wrong, it can spiral down. I don’t know everything, and I don’t claim to, but I do know that any decision that is made, it will be because I am thinking with my heart.”