Darrell Hykes doesn’t want to run with the big boys. He doesn’t want to identify with a party line. He simply wants to be the voice for Americans looking for a candidate who best represents them.

And that’s why he’s running as a write-in candidate for the 2012 presidential election.

The 41-year-old College Park resident decided to run for presidency as a Christian.

“Christians make up 76 percent of the voting population, according to a 2008 survey, yet I don’t think we are represented on the ballot,” Hykes said. “This year, we are.”

Hykes spent six years as a medical services specialist with the Air Force before beginning a 12-year career in transportation services, with his most recent job as the associate director and safety and compliance officer with Student Transport, Inc.

While this is his first foray into politics, Hykes has a clear-cut idea on what he would like to accomplish if elected. He said he would like to first meet with all 50 state governors and put the responsibility of running the states back on them, so as president, he could focus on international affairs, while still overseeing the country.

Balancing the federal budget is a top priority of his, and he would do that by reducing spending, while also reducing taxes.

Hykes said he would like to tackle unemployment primarily by lowering taxes for businesses which frees up capital for owners to expand and thus take on more employees.

Finally, he wants to overhaul the education system by making parents accountable, increasing teacher salaries and putting the Bible back in schools.

Hykes is eligible as a write-in candidate in 20 states, including Georgia, Illinois, New York, Maryland, Maine, Rhode Island and Washington, among others. He plans on campaigning in the capital cities of each state in which he is eligible during the month leading up to the election.

Information: www.darrellhykes2012.com.