Meet Colorado's RNC delegates

Rocky Mountain News

Monday, July 7, 2008

Tom Wiens

Wayne Williams

Shari Williams

Colorado Republicans at their state gathering in Broomfield elected 22 at-large delegates and 22 at-large alternates to the national convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul in September. Colorado is sending 46 delegates and 43 alternates. Here's a look at some of the delegates, the last in a series of snapshots of convention-bound Republicans. To read past profiles for Republican and Democrat delegates, go to

RockyMountainNews.com/extras.

* Tom Wiens

Age: 56

Occupation: Businessman/rancher, state senator

City: Sedalia

Family: Wife, Diana Wiens; four children; one grandchild

Pets: I have two working dogs, Australian shepherds, Bandit and Annie.

Leader you most admire? Former U.S. Sen. Bill Armstrong

Is this your first time as a national delegate? Yes

How did you campaign? Why do you think you were picked? I did not campaign. I don't know why I was picked, other than I had a lot of friends at the convention.

Dream ticket: McCain and George Strait

First political experience: Putting up yard signs with my mother for Barry Goldwater.

First presidential vote: Nixon in '72

* Shari Williams

Age: 48

Occupation: President, Leadership Program of the Rockies; consultant

City: Centennial

Family: Single

Pets: Merlin, a black lab

Leader you most admire: Bill Armstrong - always a man of principle

Is this your first time as a national delegate? I went to New York City in 2004 as an alternate and in 1980 I went to Detroit as a Youth for Reagan delegate.

How did you campaign? Why do you think you were picked? Word-of-mouth. I talked about the importance of educating future leaders on constitutional principles.

Dream ticket: John McCain and Steve Forbes

First political experience: I've been active in politics since I was 5 years old and I hid behind my parents' living room chair to listen in during the precinct caucus. I went on to become the college Republican president at UNC in Greeley and my first staff position was with Bill Armstrong.

First presidential vote: 1980 for Ronald Reagan

* Wayne Williams

Age: 45

Occupation: Small-business owner, attorney and El Paso County commissioner

City: Colorado Springs

Family: Wife, Holly; four children, Sean, 20, Greg, 18, Lindsey, 16, and Wendy, 13

Pets: Cat named Gizmo

Leader you most admire: Sen. Bill Armstrong

Is this your first time as a national delegate? I was a delegate from Colorado's 5th CD to Philadelphia in 2000. Holly was an alternate delegate from Utah to Houston in 1992, and I went along.

How did you campaign? Why do you think you were picked?I didn't specifically campaign other than my 15-second speech. Various groups supported me: the McCain unity slate, pro-family slate and one of two pro-life slates. Also there is my strong service to the party, strong support for Gov. Romney, then Sen. McCain and my service as an elected official.

Dream ticket: Sen. John McCain and Gov. Mitt Romney

First political experience: 1978 - worked while in high school for Senate candidate John Warner. I was elected a state delegate in Virginia in 1961 at age 18. (That was my high school graduation trip.)

First presidential vote: 1984 for Ronald Reagan

* Delegate Beverly Henry could not be reached.

* Alternates

Clark Bolser, 62, Thornton

Harley Brook-Hitching, 63, Telluride

Ryan Call, 33, Denver

Hugo Chavez-Rey, 59, Parker

Athena Dalton, 20, Longmont

Mike Eddy, 47, Denver

Candy Figa, 57, Greenwood Village

Jack Gloriod, 60, Colorado Springs

Cynthia Hamlyn, 35, Denver

Kevin Holst, 35, Lafayette

William Jeffers, 49, Wheat Ridge

Patrick Johnson, 66, Broomfield

Patrick Kelly, Denver

Willian Leone, 51, Westminster

Lia Moran, 31, Littleton

Art Onweller, 67, Evergreen

Jace Ratzlaff, 32, Las Animas

June Robinson, 71, Aurora

Joe Smith, 41, Denver

Mary Smith, 38, Denver

Frieda Wallison, 65, Snowmass