Meet Colorado's RNC delegates
Rocky Mountain News
Monday, July 7, 2008
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






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