Tambor Williams may not be a household name throughout Colorado, but she’s on to the next stage in her career after agreeing to be Republican Dan Maes’ running mate in the race for governor.

In announcing his choice, Maes, an Evergreen businessman and political newbie, says Williams has “everything I was looking for in a lieutenant governor” (via the Denver Business Journal).

Williams, an attorney, was a state representative for Greeley from 1997 to 2004 and then became executive director of the state’s Department of Regulatory Agencies under former Governor Bill Owens for two years. She’s currently on the state Commission on Judicial Performance, a body that evaluates judges.

Maes tells Politico he met Williams more than a year ago, and they became friends: “She brings a complementary skill set to what I lacked, and that of course was legislative and administrative experience in the Capitol.” He adds that his selection is not based on gender: “She is just so smart and intelligent from a political standpoint; that is what stood out to me first.”

While serving in the legislature, Williams rose to the position of speaker pro tem and chaired the business affairs and legislative audit committees, notes 9News.

Maes is going to need a solid partner. The Denver Post reports that the Republican Governors Association, which “had been poised to spend millions of dollars in Colorado as it looked to help the party take back state control ahead of redistricting,” will not finance advertising for Maes’ campaign.