Cleave Simpson, a Republican rancher, is Weiser’s first cabinet pick

By Marianne Goodland | The Denver Gazette

With his first cabinet selection on Tuesday, Gov.-elect Phil Weiser sent a message to rural Colorado and the agriculture industry by picking Republican Sen. Cleave Simpson of Alamosa as the next commissioner of agriculture, rural leaders and other observers said.

The state Senate must confirm Simpson’s nomination after it convenes in January.

“Cleave Simpson is a true public servant who cares about rural Colorado, understands deeply the challenges we are facing and is committed to working with all of Colorado to build a better future,” Weiser said in a statement to Colorado Politics.

Weiser added, “I’m honored to have him as a part of my cabinet as the Commissioner of Agriculture and look forward to working with him to deliver results for our state.”

Simpson told Colorado Politics that the commissioner job wasn’t on his radar six months ago.

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