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Meet GOP delegates

Compiled by Lynn Bartels

Published June 23, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Mojie Adler

Mojie Adler

Crista Huff

Crista Huff

Keri Brehm

Keri Brehm

Alan Duff

Alan Duff

Merilou Athens-Barnekow

Merilou Athens-Barnekow

Al Bollwerk

Al Bollwerk

Kristi Burton

Kristi Burton

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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 as part of a series of snapshots of convention-bound Republicans.

At-large delegates

* Mojie Adler

Age: 82

Occupation: Retired computer analyst with Department of Defense

City: Pagosa Springs

Family: Husband, James Rains, and three grown children

Of all Colorado's elected leaders, living or dead, whom do you most admire? U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard and U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo

Is this your first time as a national delegate? Yes

How did you campaign? Why do you think you were picked? I didn't campaign. I serve as secretary of the Archuleta County Republican Central Committee and president and secretary of the Archuleta County Republican Women.

Dream ticket: John McCain and Mitt Romney

First political experience: Candidate for homeowners association, 1977. As a federal employee I could not participate in national politics because of the Hatch Act.

First presidential vote: Nixon in 1968. Being married to a career military person, we were stationed in foreign countries.There was no effort to afford military personnel and their dependents a chance to cast their votes.

* Merilou Athens-Barnekow

Age: 69

Occupation: Web site designer,search engine optimization expert

City: I have a Pueblo mailing address but I live in unincorporated southern El Paso County.

Family: Husband, Bill Barnekow, and seven grown children.

Of all Colorado's elected leaders, living or dead, whom do you most admire? Tom Tancredo. He has the courage to stand for his convictions.

Is this your first time as a national delegate? I was a delegate in 1992.

How did you campaign? Why do you think you were picked? I campaigned to protect the national platform from changes that would weaken the Republican stand for life and family values. It didn't hurt to have my wonderful 6-foot-6 husband dressed like Uncle Sam carrying a sign to vote for me.

Dream ticket: McCain-Mike Huckabee

First political experience: Became a precinct committeeman in 1983 and have been one since then except for brief move to Texas for work.

First presidential vote: John F. Kennedy. I liked his teeth and hair. Have since become enlightened.

* Gary Bartel

Age: 58

Occupation: Vice president of sales

City: Bailey

Family: Single

Leader you most admire: Equally, Bill Armstrong and Bill Owens.

Is this your first time as a national delegate? Yes

How did you campaign? Why do you think you were picked? You would have to ask the conventioneers.

Dream ticket: McCain and Romney

First political experience: I have been semi-active over the past 20 years.

First presidential vote: 1972

* Al Bollwerk

Age: 61

Occupation: Retired from Avaya, Lucent Technologies, AT&T, Mountain Bell and Bell Telephone Labs; work part time as a rural mail carrier and a numerator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Founder, president and CEO of Hanson Research Station, doing research and excavation of dinosaur fossils in Wyoming. The scientific research is conducted by Bible- believing scientists with a creation viewpoint and philosophy.

City: Parker

Family: Wife, Brenda, four grown children

Leader you most admire: Tom Tancredo

Is this your first time as a national delegate? Yes. I was an alternate in 1992 in Houston and 2000 in Philadelphia.

How did you campaign? Why do you think you were picked? I wasn't picked, I was elected by 3,042 state delegates at the state convention, receiving 1,410 votes. I have stood firm over the last 25 years supporting right to life, protecting the unborn, Second Amendment, U.S. Constitution, lower taxes and less government and less control over its people.

Dream ticket: McCain-Romney

First political experience: I believe it was in 1982 when I lived in Cheyenne. I stood up for a right-to-life rally led by Jerry Falwell at the Wyoming State Capitol.

First presidential vote: Nixon

* Keri Brehm

Age: 41

Occupation: Church ministry coordinator

City: Castle Pines North

Family: Husband, Scott, two daughters, Jessica, 12, and Natalie, 9

Leader you most admire: Former U.S. Rep. Bob Schaffer because he is solid on all the important issues and is a family man who came home from Washington with his principles and integrity intact.

Is this your first time as a national delegate? Yes

How did you campaign? Why do you think you were picked? I called or e-mailed everyone I personally knew that was a state delegate and printed fliers with my views and picture. Being on the pro-life and unity slates at the convention helped tremendously.

Dream ticket: McCain-Romney

First political experience: Attending a caucus meeting at neighbor and precinct leader Jean Landauer's home in Littleton in 2002. . . . She taught me the process, and I've been active ever since - although now I'm in Douglas County.

First presidential vote: Bush 41

* Kristi Burton

Age: 20

Occupation: Law student, initiative sponsor of the Colorado Personhood Amendment

City: Peyton

Family: Single. Parents, Mike and Debra, brothers Danny and Josh.

Leader you most admire: State Sens. Scott Renfroe, of Greeley, and Mike Kopp, of Littleton. I've seen what they are willing to do when they believe in something simply because it's right. I think they act on the passion that is in their hearts.

Is this your first time as a national delegate? Yes

How did you campaign? Why do you think you were picked? My friend, Summer Vanderbilt, who is a national alternate, made up fliers for the two of us. They said "2 0/20 Vision . . . send two visionary 20-year-olds to the national convention." I'm also grateful that I was put on four candidate slates, including the Christian Family Alliance of Colorado slate. During my 15-second speech, I spoke about the Personhood Amendment. I believe the message of personhood resonates with a lot of Coloradans.

Dream ticket: At this point, I'd have to say John McCain and Mike Huckabee, although personally, I think my dad would be a great president .

First political experience: Going to a town hall meeting where then-Sen. Mark Hillman spoke.

First presidential vote: 2008 will be my first vote, although my mom used to let me fill out her absentee ballot for her, and then I voted for President George W. Bush.

* Alan Duff

Age: 49

Occupation: Vice president, Global Human Resources, Norgren Inc.

City: Littleton

Family: Spouse Kathryn; sons, Alan Jr., 18, and Wesley, 16

Leader you most admire: Wayne Allard

Is this your first time as a national delegate? Yes

How did you campaign? Why do you think you were picked? I created a flier to stuff into the delegate tote bags for the convention. In addition, I created posters that were displayed at the entrance of the convention hall with my family members. . . . I think I was selected because other delegates aligned with my stand on pro-life, pro-family and pro-America. Serving my country for 12 years as an Army officer was a plus as well.

Dream ticket: McCain and Newt Gingrich

First political experience: Harris County, Texas, county delegate

First presidential vote: Jimmy Carter in 1976

* Celeste Huber

Age: Do I have to say?

Occupation: Social worker and counselor

City: Denver

Family: Two grown children, Rachel Huber and Paul Huber

Leader you most admire: Bob Schaffer. He's a cool guy. He's a family man.

Is this your first time as a national delegate? This is my first time ever of getting involved. I felt like I was getting conned by Barack Obama. I said I need to get involved.

How did you campaign? Why do you think you were picked? I went to the caucus, my first one. I volunteered to run for delegate. In my presentation I talked about what was important to me. People told me they liked my presentation.

Dream ticket: I'm not sure I have one. McCain is not my dream candidate, but he has more integrity and character than his Democratic opponent.

First political experience: When I was a child I campaigned for John F. Kennedy. I loved him. I used to go to his campaign office and help all the time. I was in grade school. When he was assassinated, I just wept.

First presidential vote: I traveled a lot overseas, and I didn't vote when I was traveling. I worked my way around the world. I think my first vote was for Ronald Reagan in 1980.

* Crista Huff

Age: 48

Occupation: Retired vice president at Morgan Stanley

City: Castle Rock

Family: Husband, Jeff, daughters ages 7, 9 and 12

Leader you most admire: Tom Tancredo for having the guts and tenacity to forge ahead on hard issues, which, though unpopular among legislators, negatively impact each and every Coloradan.

Is this your first time as a national delegate? Yes

How did you campaign? Why do you think you were picked? My friends and I prayed. I printed up fliers citing experience and recommendations from friends, and I stuffed them into the delegates' tote bags prior to the state convention. As for why I was picked, it could be part of God's plan, or could be that my qualifications and political viewpoints as listed on the flier were convincing.

Dream ticket: Tom Tancredo and Jesus Christ. Tom could do the hard, controversial work and Jesus could inspire the populace to work toward something bigger than themselves.

First political experience: In high school, the school bond issue got voted down and the result was an austerity budget without sports, music, art, etc. The students all rallied and campaigned and were instrumental in getting a new bond issue passed.

First presidential vote: I voted for a third party candidate during college - can't recall who it was.

Comments

  • June 23, 2008

    10:27 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    danirobi writes:

    I went to the RNC National Convention in 2004 for the State of Colorado as a alternate delegate. I was one of the youngest people to go, 22 yrs old. Unfortunately, I was able to this year, since I live else where...Grand Old Party, hmmm, might want to re-think that statement.

  • June 23, 2008

    12:11 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Freshynana writes:

    GOP is the EVIL EMPIRE!!! Your pupet in the white house has set b this country back 100 years. Your devotion to religion has broke constitutional law again and again. If you voted for Bush YOU had a part in ruining this counrty. YES YOU. All you voted for was someone who would infuse the fictional readings of the bible and turn them into law. I really dispise all of you for forcing your ways apon all of us. This is not a free country its run by OLD, out of touch, single minded poop heads...

  • June 23, 2008

    12:18 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Freshynana writes:

    even if your 20 years old or 22 you still believe in a outdated and often confused way to control the masses. SHEEP!!

  • June 23, 2008

    5:32 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Beverley writes:

    Once again, my party is becoming irrelevent. As people pay $4.00 a gallon for gas and can barely afford health care, my party wants to talk about bans on abortion, gay marriage and stem cell research. I figured we would have pulled ourselves together after the loss of the governor's seat, but, evidenced by this panel of delegates, obviously it's the same old message. What else do we have to lose before we realize that our core values (fiscal restraint and government out of our personal lives) are the only values that resonate with voters? Spare us these religious weirdos!