Meet Colorado's RNC delegates

Rocky Mountain News

Published July 7, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Tom Wiens

Wayne Williams

Shari Williams

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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