Dan Maes calls Tambor Williams "establishment conservative" at lieutenant governor press event

Tambor Williams.

At a press conference today, Dan Maes announced Tambor Williams as his lieutenant governor choice -- and according to Westword's Johnny Molfetta, who attended the event and took the photos here and below, the tone was much more somber than at John Hickenlooper's introduction of running mate Joseph Garcia. While Hickenlooper joked around, referring to Garcia as a "shredder," Maes was deadly serious as he touted Williams's credentials as an "establishment conservative."

Oh, yeah: Maes added that Williams "also stands for Tea Party conservatism."

Be that as it may, Williams has the political background Maes lacks -- and while Liberty Movement types like Northern Colorado Tea Party director Lesley Hollywood like his outsider credentials, Maes clearly believes other Republicans may need a little reassurance. As he explained, he's "bringing [Williams] on board for her experience in the trenches."

Dan Maes steps up.

For her part, Williams touted Maes as a "workhorse" and noted that she has "an A+ rating from the NRA."

The pair presumably gets high marks from lovers of classic R&B and rock, too. The event closed with "Simply the Best," by Tina Turner, and Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion." Not that anyone present fit the description of "some sweat-hog mama with a face like a gent."

Page down for more photos by Molfetta and the official Maes campaign release about Williams: