Mark Hillman
Encyclopedia
Mark Hillman was elected to the Colorado State Senate in 1998. He served as Majority Leader
from 2003 to 2004 and Minority Leader
in 2005 before serving as State Treasurer
from 2005 to 2006. He is a member of the Republican Party
and was elected Republican National Committeeman on May 31, 2008.
on Colorado's eastern plains. During high school, he took a part-time job with his hometown newspaper, the Burlington Record
. After graduating from Burlington High School in 1985, he became a full-time sports editor, news reporter, photographer, and “jack of all trades.” In 1994, Hillman left the paper to work the family farm.
and Minority Leader
.
Hillman’s leadership earned him National Legislator of the Year honors from the American Legislative Exchange Council
, “Taxpayer Champion” from the Colorado Union of Taxpayers, and numerous other awards in Colorado, including recognition from the Colorado Farm Bureau, the National Federation of Independent Business
, the Colorado Civil Justice League, and the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry.
nominated Hillman for Republican National Committeeman, calling him "one of the greatest legislators in the history of Colorado." Hillman won and replaced United States Senate
candidate Bob Schaffer
as one of Colorado's three Republican National Committeemen.
, Denver Post, Colorado Springs Gazette, Pueblo Chieftain
, Fort Collins Coloradoan
, Greeley Tribune, Loveland Reporter-Herald, Longmont Daily Times-Call, Grand Junction Daily Sentinel
, Durango Herald
and other publications. He also comments as a guest or host for radio personalities Mike Rosen
on Denver’s 850 KOA
, John Andrews’ Backbone America, and Amy Oliver on Greeley’s KFKA 1310.
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
from 2003 to 2004 and Minority Leader
Minority leader
In U.S. politics, the minority leader is the floor leader of the second largest caucus in a legislative body. Given the two-party nature of the U.S. system, the minority leader is almost inevitably either a Republican or a Democrat, with their counterpart being of the opposite party. The position...
in 2005 before serving as State Treasurer
State Treasurer
In the state governments of the United States, 49 of the 50 states have the executive position of treasurer. Texas abolished the position of Texas State Treasurer in 1996....
from 2005 to 2006. He is a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and was elected Republican National Committeeman on May 31, 2008.
Early life
Hillman grew up working his parents' farm in BurlingtonBurlington, Colorado
Burlington is a Home Rule Municipality, county seat, most populous place and only city in Kit Carson County, Colorado, United States. Its population was 4191 at the U.S. Census 2010...
on Colorado's eastern plains. During high school, he took a part-time job with his hometown newspaper, the Burlington Record
Burlington Record
The Burlington Record is a weekly newspaper in Burlington, Colorado. It is published by Prairie Mountain Publishing, which is owned by MediaNews Group.The Burlington Record is in its 119th year of publication...
. After graduating from Burlington High School in 1985, he became a full-time sports editor, news reporter, photographer, and “jack of all trades.” In 1994, Hillman left the paper to work the family farm.
Education
Hillman took classes at Colby Community College in Kansas, Morgan Community College, and Regis University. He did not complete a degree.Colorado State Senate
Hillman announced his candidacy for the State Senate in late 1997. After winning, he became the senator from the state’s largest legislative district, covering 12 counties and more than 21000 square miles (54,389.8 km²). Hillman was elected to leadership posts for five of his seven years in the Senate, including both Majority LeaderMajority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
and Minority Leader
Minority leader
In U.S. politics, the minority leader is the floor leader of the second largest caucus in a legislative body. Given the two-party nature of the U.S. system, the minority leader is almost inevitably either a Republican or a Democrat, with their counterpart being of the opposite party. The position...
.
Hillman’s leadership earned him National Legislator of the Year honors from the American Legislative Exchange Council
American Legislative Exchange Council
The American Legislative Exchange Council is a politically conservative 501 non-profit Policy Organization, consisting of both state legislators and members of the private sector. ALEC's mission statement describes the organization's purpose as the advancement of free-market principles, limited...
, “Taxpayer Champion” from the Colorado Union of Taxpayers, and numerous other awards in Colorado, including recognition from the Colorado Farm Bureau, the National Federation of Independent Business
National Federation of Independent Business
The National Federation of Independent Business is a lobbying organization with its headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee and offices in Washington, D.C. USA, and in all 50 state capitals...
, the Colorado Civil Justice League, and the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry.
Colorado State Treasurer
Appointed as Colorado’s State Treasurer in June 2005 by Governor Bill Owens, Hillman served as the state's chief financial officer and guardian of the taxpayer, ensuring that public funds entrusted to the state were managed safely and effectively in the best interests of Coloradans. As treasurer, Hillman’s priorities included investing taxpayers dollars properly, improving the state’s financial stability, and empowering Coloradans through financial independence.Republican National Committeeman
At the Republican State Convention on May 31, 2008, former United States Senator William L. ArmstrongWilliam L. Armstrong
William Lester "Bill" Armstrong is an American businessman and politician. He is member of the Republican party and was a United States Representative and Senator from Colorado. Armstrong was born in Fremont, Nebraska...
nominated Hillman for Republican National Committeeman, calling him "one of the greatest legislators in the history of Colorado." Hillman won and replaced United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
candidate Bob Schaffer
Bob Schaffer
Robert Warren "Bob" Schaffer was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from the State of Colorado in the 105th Congress and the two succeeding Congresses . In 2004, Schaffer lost in the primary election to be the Republican nominee for a U.S. Senate seat...
as one of Colorado's three Republican National Committeemen.
Publications
Hillman's commentaries have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Rocky Mountain NewsRocky Mountain News
The Rocky Mountain News was a daily newspaper published in Denver, Colorado, United States from April 23, 1859, until February 27, 2009. It was owned by the E. W. Scripps Company from 1926 until its closing. As of March 2006, the Monday-Friday circulation was 255,427...
, Denver Post, Colorado Springs Gazette, Pueblo Chieftain
Pueblo Chieftain
The Pueblo Chieftain is an American daily newspaper published in Pueblo, Colorado. 2006 marks its 138th year publishing.The Chieftain was established in 1868 by Dr. Michael Beshoar, the first doctor in Trinidad, Colorado. Wilbur Fisk Stone George A...
, Fort Collins Coloradoan
Fort Collins Coloradoan
The Coloradoan is a daily newspaper in Fort Collins, Colorado. The Coloradoan's website is updated throughout the day with breaking news and video coverage of community news. A portion of the paper's newsroom serves as Northern Newsroom for 9News....
, Greeley Tribune, Loveland Reporter-Herald, Longmont Daily Times-Call, Grand Junction Daily Sentinel
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel
The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel is the largest daily newspaper in western Colorado, with distribution in six counties.The Sentinel’s companion website, , was founded in 1996. Together, the news organization provides daily community, state, national and international news coverage.The Daily...
, Durango Herald
Durango Herald
The Durango Herald is a daily newspaper in Durango, Colorado. The first edition of the Herald came out June 30, 1881. Two years later, the Herald merged with the Record, which had started publishing in 1880, seven months before the Herald. The modern Herald traces its roots to both papers but the...
and other publications. He also comments as a guest or host for radio personalities Mike Rosen
Mike Rosen
Michael "Mike" Rosen is an American radio personality and political commentator. He is the host of The Mike Rosen Show on talk radio station 850 KOA in Denver, Colorado, as well as a weekly opinion columnist for The Denver Post and previously a weekly opinion columnist for the Rocky Mountain News...
on Denver’s 850 KOA
KOA (AM)
KOA is a clear channel, news/talk radio station serving the Denver-Boulder and Colorado Springs, Colorado markets. It is owned by Clear Channel Communications and is nicknamed "the Blowtorch of the West" for its 50,000 watt signal.KOA was originally owned by General Electric and began...
, John Andrews’ Backbone America, and Amy Oliver on Greeley’s KFKA 1310.