By Gregg Hoffmann, for WisPolitics
The Wisconsin delegation to the Republican National Convention features two former governors, Tommy Thompson and Scott Walker, and the 2022 GOP candidate for governor, Tim Michels.
It also includes a lot of party activists who have little name recognition.
Others with recognized political ties include: Republican Party of Wisconsin Immediate Past Chairman Paul Farrow, the Waukesha County executive; Republican Party of Wisconsin Past Chairman Brad Courtney; State Treasurer John Leiber, state Sen. Cory Tomczyk, R-Mosinee.
Three delegates are Wisconsin RNC appointees: Republican Party Chairman Brian Schimming, RNC Committeewoman Maripat Krueger and RNC Committeeman Tom Schreibel.
Other delegates are from districts and at-large appointees. The eight Wisconsin Congressional districts each receive three delegates. By the way, there also are 38 alternative delegates.
While only some have held elected office, many would define themselves as “political junkies.”
Patty Reiman of Whitefish Bay, will be serving her fifth time as a delegate and has never held office. Reiman, who’s retired, calls herself a “professional Republican volunteer.” Her professional life was once political, having worked for former Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner for 15 years.
This year, she’s getting a break, with the RNC close to home. “This being in Milwaukee will be a treasure for me because six miles away from where I live, I’m going to be on the convention floor representing Milwaukee County,” Reiman told Spectrum News.
Luke Dreske is another delegate who is not a household name. He’s a member of the Berlin City Council and Green Lake County Board, but admits he was “flabbergasted” when told he was selected.
He hesitated when told costs would be $3,000 for hotel rooms and other expenses. But, his family and friends put together funds for the costs.
Peter Church is an irrigation farmer and cow calf producer, who also happens to be town chair of Lincoln Township in Adams County. A lifelong conservative. Church has been a member in good standing of the local GOP since 2014.
Church will serve as a delegate for the first time. “I’m excited to serve as a delegate for the 3rd congressional district. It was an honor to be elected. I am looking forward to supporting Donald Trump!”
Terrence R. Wall, president of T. Wall Enterprises Mgt, is a real estate developer and tech entrepreneur. He’s been a Republican since 1990. He will serve as a delegate for the first time.
Wall ran for the U.S. Senate in 2010. He didn’t win, but he says it’s the year “when we proved we could beat (Russ) Feingold.” The Democratic senator “was also my tenant; his Senate office was in one of my buildings,” said Wall.
Cynthia Werner, who has been a delegate before, will represent the 4th Congressional District. “It feels amazing,” she said about the RNC. “This convention will provide an opportunity to help boost the economy throughout Wisconsin and the City of Milwaukee.”
The GOP expects roughly 2,469 delegates to be on hand when the party convenes its nominating convention in Milwaukee. Of those, 2,365 will be bound delegates and 104 will be unpledged delegates.
To win the Republican presidential nomination, a candidate will have to receive the support from a simple majority of these delegates — in other words, about 1,235 of them. At this convention, there’s no doubt about the nominee, who will be Donald Trump.
Speaking of hotels, the Wisconsin delegation first was assigned to a Racine hotel. It eventually was assigned to the Hampton Inn & Suites in downtown Milwaukee.
See the full list of delegates and alternates.
Delegate spotlight
Terrence R. Wall
President of T. Wall Enterprises Mgt, is a real estate developer and tech entrepreneur from Middleton.
Political ties. He’s been a Republican since 1990.
He will serve as a delegate for the first time. As for being at the RNC, he said, “Exciting. Hard work.”
Wall believes in less government, lower taxes, and a strong national defense. “Everything else is secondary,” Wall said in describing why he is a Republican.
Wall ran for the U.S. Senate in 2010. He didn’t win, but he says it’s the year “when we proved we could beat (Russ) Feingold.” The Democratic senator “was also my tenant; his Senate office was in one of my buildings,” said Wall.
Peter Church
An irrigation farmer and cow calf producer
Town chair of Lincoln Township in Adams County.
A lifelong conservative. Church has been a member in good standing of the local GOP since 2014.
Church will serve as a delegate for the first time. “I’m excited to serve as a delegate for the 3rd Congressional District. It was an honor to be elected. I am looking forward to supporting Donald Trump!”
Cynthia Werner
Cynthia is a semi-retired real estate agent from Milwaukee
She’s been involved with the GOP for most of her life.
She describes herself as Christian, constitutional, conservative.
A delegate before, she described this opportunity as: “It feels amazing. This convention will provide an opportunity to help boost the economy throughout Wisconsin and the City of Milwaukee.”
See more convention news and information at Convention Corridor.
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