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Questions of security and unity loom on eve of Republican National Convention

Donald Trump's official coronation begins Monday
Posted at 10:19 PM, Jul 17, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-17 23:29:01-04

Security and unity are the two big challenges facing Republicans as they gather in Cleveland for their national convention starting Monday.

It has already been an unpredictable ride this year for Republicans, and it could be an unconventional convention.

Donald Trump will officially accept his party's nomination in the Quicken Loans arena, better known as The Q.

TODAY’S TMJ4's Charles Benson talked with a Wisconsin man who is shouldering a lot of the responsibility to make sure it all goes well.

Former FBI agent Steve King has been going to Republican conventions since 1972, but the Janesville resident is overseeing all the planning and staging of the GOP Convention in Cleveland.

"From a security stand point this is about as prepared event in a city as I've seen," King said.

More than 50,000 are expected this week, including 5,000 delegates. Protests are not uncommon at conventions, but there has been tension and unrest throughout this campaign cycle at previous Trump rallies, and the entire country is on edge with terrorists threats.

“Outside I can't control. I only worry about the things I can control,” King said. “Inside the arena itself and the security zones surrounding the arena is going to be the safest place in America.”

Unifying Republicans is another challenge. Many big name Republicans are skipping the convention. Ohio Gov. John Kasich,  a former presidential candidate, is not expected to step inside The Q.

Conservative commentator Bill Kristol is also not a Trump fan and feels we haven’t head the last of the Never Trump movement.

“Lots of people are not going to vote for him in the general election,” Kristol said.

Despite supporting Ted Cruz in the April Primary, Wisconsin's delegation has a front row seat to Trump's GOP convention. In fact, this this the first time in 40 years Wisconsin Republicans did not end up voting for the eventual nominee.

"I really hope the convention itself is one of unifying," King said. "Unifying all various elements of the primaries that sometimes were fairly divisive — I think we have a program lined up to do just that."

Speaker Paul Ryan and Gov. Scott Walker are both speaking at the convention this week.

Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke — who runs as a Democrat — was also asked to speak.