Wayne W. Williams

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Wayne W. Williams (born 1963) is an American attorney and politician. A member of the Republican Party, he is the Secretary of State of Colorado.

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Early life

Williams grew up in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. His father was the facilities manager of the National Zoo's Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, where Williams was raised.

In high school, Williams organized for local Republican Party candidates. He also served as a delegate at the Virginia Republican Party convention. He attended Brigham Young University (BYU) on the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, and graduated in 1985 with a bachelor's degree in political science. He graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1989.

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Career

Williams began practicing employment law and labor law in the Salt Lake City office of Holme Roberts & Owen. He was offered a job with Sherman & Howard in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which he accepted in 1992.

Bob Isaac, the mayor of Colorado Springs, appointed Williams to the city's Housing Authority board. Williams served for eight years as a El Paso County Commissioner. In 2010, Williams was elected the El Paso County Clerk & Recorder.

In 2014, Scott Gessler, the Secretary of State of Colorado, announced his candidacy for Governor of Colorado in the Colorado gubernatorial election, 2014. Williams ran unopposed for the Republican Party nomination for Secretary of State. He defeated Democratic Party nominee Joe Neguse in the general election, 47.5% to 44.9%.

On December 19, 2016 Michael Baca, a Colorado presidential elector, was replaced by Williams with Celeste Landry after Baca failed to vote for Hillary Clinton as he was pledged; Landry voted for Clinton. Two Colorado electors filed suit against Williams in August 2017.