Republicans Pick Developer To Lead Party

Developer Jim Nicholson won a seven-man race to become chairman of the Republican National Committee, a victory that means Coloradans will lead both major parties into the 1998 midterm elections.

It took six ballots Friday for the 58-year-old Nicholson to win the crowded race to succeed Haley Barbour. On Tuesday, the Democratic National Committee is certain to approve President Clinton’s selection of Colorado Gov. Roy Romer for the DNC chairmanship.

Nicholson, a member of the RNC for 10 years, graduated from West Point and served as an Army Ranger in Vietnam. He later attended Columbia University Law School and practiced environmental law in Colorado before establishing a homebuilding company.

In brief victory remarks, Nicholson pledged “to be a forceful messenger for our ideals and our values.”