Hillman Makes RNC Committeeman Bid Official

Confirming what has been an open secret, former state Senate Minority Leader and acting Treasurer Mark Hillman announced Thursday that he's running for RNC committeeman.

"I thoroughly enjoy working with Republican activists across the state," Hillman told PolitickerCO Thursday, "And I think this is a good opportunity to continue to build on those relationships while promoting the conservative message that I believe what distances us from Democrats."

Hillman made the announcement Thursday morning in a e-mail sent to supporters, according to Rocky Mountain Right, a conservative blog. A more official announcement will come next week, Hillman said.

Hillman will face state Sen. Dave Schultheis (R-Colorado Springs) for the position, which will be voted on by GOP state convention delegates and alternates next month.

"From that standpoint, after you run a regular general election race, you look at something that's only going to be about six weeks long as a welcome change from a real election," Hillman said.

Hillman said he wasn't running in order to defeat Schultheis. 

"As far as issues, there are probably not too many things -- maybe not any things -- (Schultheis) and I significantly disagree on," he said.

Schultheis, who said he's running at the request of several prominent GOP figures, said he and Hillman met a couple weeks ago and agreed to run a friendly -- but spirited -- campaign.

"We made a personal  pact we're not going to do anything to make the other look bad here," Schultheis said. "We're just going to run on our own merits and let the voters decide.

"We're going to be friends after the race is over," Schultheis said. "But let the best man win."