Dawn Gibbons
Encyclopedia
Dawn Gibbons is an American politician from Nevada. She is known for being the wife of Governor Jim Gibbons, although they were divorced on July 21, 2010.
and moved to Nevada
at the age of 20. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno
with a bachelor's degree
in geological studies
. Following graduation, she owned and operated two wedding chapel
s in Reno, Nevada
. During this period, she met her future husband, Jim Gibbons, then a Delta Air Lines
pilot. They married in 1986. Together they have one child, Jimmy, now serving in the United States Navy and currently at Whiting Field in flight training.
, filling a vacancy created when her husband resigned his seat in order to serve in the Persian Gulf War
. She resigned from the state legislature in April 1991, allowing her husband to reclaim his seat. Following her husband's reappointment to the seat, she resumed her career in business until 1998, when she was elected to the Nevada Assembly, serving from 1999 to 2005. During the 2006 election season, she was defeated in the Republican Party
primary
to succeed her husband in the U.S. House of Representatives, finishing in third place behind Secretary of State
Dean Heller
, the eventual winner of both the primary and the general elections, and State Assemblywoman Sharron Angle
. In that same election cycle, her husband won both the Republican
primary and the general election to become Governor of Nevada.
in Carson City
.
Gibbons subsequently moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, and debuted her talk radio show, The Dawn Gibbons Show, on Fox News on March 30, 2010, with Nevada Assembly
Republican Minority Leader Heidi Gansert and U.S. Senator Harry Reid
as her first guests. Gibbons endorsed Reid in his re-election bid
, saying he "was the only one to call to see how I was [after filing for divorce]. The only elected official to do that. He's a gift from God."
On July 21, 2010, the divorce became final.
Early and personal life
Dawn Gibbons was born in Atlanta, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and moved to Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
at the age of 20. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno
University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA...
with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in geological studies
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
. Following graduation, she owned and operated two wedding chapel
Wedding chapel
A wedding chapel is a place, other than a legal court, and usually also, other than a church, where couples can get legally married. A church may also be used as a wedding chapel, but churches are usually called that by the marrying couple when the ceremony only involves those contracting matrimony...
s in Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
. During this period, she met her future husband, Jim Gibbons, then a Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
pilot. They married in 1986. Together they have one child, Jimmy, now serving in the United States Navy and currently at Whiting Field in flight training.
Political Career
In 1991, Dawn Gibbons was appointed to the Nevada AssemblyNevada Assembly
The Nevada Assembly is the lower house of the Nevada Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Nevada. The body consists of 42 members, elected to two-year terms from single-member districts. Each Assembly district contained approximately 47,400 people as of the 2000 census, although...
, filling a vacancy created when her husband resigned his seat in order to serve in the Persian Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. She resigned from the state legislature in April 1991, allowing her husband to reclaim his seat. Following her husband's reappointment to the seat, she resumed her career in business until 1998, when she was elected to the Nevada Assembly, serving from 1999 to 2005. During the 2006 election season, she was defeated in the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
to succeed her husband in the U.S. House of Representatives, finishing in third place behind Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
Dean Heller
Dean Heller
Dean A. Heller is the junior United States Senator from Nevada and a member of the Republican Party. Heller was appointed by Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval to a vacant seat created by the resignation of John Ensign. He was previously a member of the United States House of Representatives,...
, the eventual winner of both the primary and the general elections, and State Assemblywoman Sharron Angle
Sharron Angle
Sharron Elaine Angle is an American politician who served as a Republican member of the Nevada Assembly from 1999 to 2007. She ran unsuccessfully as the 2010 Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate seat in Nevada, garnering 45 percent of the vote...
. In that same election cycle, her husband won both the Republican
Republicanism
Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context...
primary and the general election to become Governor of Nevada.
Divorce
On May 2, 2008, the governor filed for divorce on grounds of incompatibility, citing an undisclosed incident in Reno, and asked the court to determine whether he or his wife would live at the Nevada Governor's MansionNevada Governor's Mansion
The Nevada Governor's Mansion is the official residence of the Governor of Nevada and his family. Reno architect George A. Ferris designed this Classical Revival style mansion.- History :...
in Carson City
Carson City, Nevada
The Consolidated Municipality of Carson City is the capital of the state of Nevada. The words Consolidated Municipality refer to a series of changes in 1969 which abolished Ormsby County and merged all the settlements contained within its borders into Carson City. Since that time Carson City has...
.
Gibbons subsequently moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, and debuted her talk radio show, The Dawn Gibbons Show, on Fox News on March 30, 2010, with Nevada Assembly
Nevada Assembly
The Nevada Assembly is the lower house of the Nevada Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Nevada. The body consists of 42 members, elected to two-year terms from single-member districts. Each Assembly district contained approximately 47,400 people as of the 2000 census, although...
Republican Minority Leader Heidi Gansert and U.S. Senator Harry Reid
Harry Reid
Harry Mason Reid is the senior United States Senator from Nevada, serving since 1987. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been the Senate Majority Leader since January 2007, having previously served as Minority Leader and Minority and Majority Whip.Previously, Reid was a member of the U.S...
as her first guests. Gibbons endorsed Reid in his re-election bid
United States Senate election in Nevada, 2010
-Tarkanian:-Angle:-Polling:Includes current candidates who have polled at least 2% in at least one poll.-Results:-Candidates:*Harry Reid , incumbent U.S...
, saying he "was the only one to call to see how I was [after filing for divorce]. The only elected official to do that. He's a gift from God."
On July 21, 2010, the divorce became final.