Face The State Staff Report
In a three-way race for Colorado's Republican National Committeeman Saturday, former state Senate Majority Leader Mark Hillman topped state Sen. Dave Schultheis, R-Colo. Springs, and GOP activist Leondray Gholston at the state GOP convention in Broomfield.
HillmanJessica Fischer/Special to FTS
“It’s the perfect campaign season,” said Hillman, who had narrowly lost his bid for state Treasurer to Democrat Cary Kennedy in 2006. “It’s short and not expensive.”
With Colorado's congressional delegation becoming increasingly dominated by Democrats, the committeeman position has become an important venue for finding a national voice for Colorado Republicans.
“We need to re-establish our conservative credentials and show we believe in small government and trust the people,” Hillman said. More than three dozen party leaders packed the stage at the Broomfield Events Center to show their support for his candidacy.
Prior to voting, some delegates remained confused about the nominating process. Hillman volunteer Brian Paul of Pueblo stopped one undecided delegate Saturday who was displaying both Hillman and Schultheis stickers, saying, “You can only choose one.”
As it turned out, the choice was easy. Schultheis finished the race in last place with 19 percent – unable to collect more votes than the little known Gholston who garnered 26 percent, but it was Hillman who carried the race with 55 percent of the vote.