Mark Hillman was elected to the Colorado State Senate in 1998. He served as

Majority Leader In U.S. politics (as well as in some other countries utilizing the presidential system), the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.

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.

Early life

Hillman grew up working his parents' farm in Burlington 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.

Education

Hillman took classes at Colby Community College in Kansas, Morgan Community College, and Regis University. He did not complete a degree.

Political career

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 . Hillman was elected to leadership posts for five of his seven years in the Senate, including both

Majority Leader In U.S. politics (as well as in some other countries utilizing the presidential system), the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.

and Minority Leader. Hillman received National Legislator of the Year honors from the

American Legislative Exchange Council The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is a nonprofit organization of conservative state legislators and private sector representatives who draft and share model legislation for distribution among state governments in the United State ...

(ALEC), "Taxpayer Champion" from the Colorado Union of Taxpayers, and other awards in Colorado, including recognition from the Colorado Farm Bureau, the

National Federation of Independent Business The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is an association of small businesses in the United States. It is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, with offices in Washington, D.C., and all 50 state capitals. The goal of NFIB is to a ...

, the Colorado Civil Justice League, and the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry.

Colorado State Treasurer

Hillman was appointed as Colorado's State Treasurer in June 2005 by Governor Bill Owens.

Republican National Committeeman

At the Republican State Convention on May 31, 2008, former

United States Senator The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and powe ...

William L. Armstrong 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 The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and pow ...

candidate

Bob Schaffer Robert Warren Schaffer (born July 24, 1962) is a Republican former member of the United States House of Representatives from the State of Colorado in the 105th Congress and the two succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2003). Sc ...

as one of Colorado's three Republican National Committeemen.

Personal life

Mark married Heidi Horvath on July 16, 2005.

References

External links

Mark Hillman website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hillman, Mark Living people State treasurers of Colorado Republican Party Colorado state senators People from Burlington, Colorado Year of birth missing (living people)