Weiser announces first Colorado cabinet appointments

Colorado Gov.-elect Phil Weiser announced his first cabinet nominations, selecting Republican state Sen. Cleave Simpson as agriculture commissioner, former state Sen. Dominick Moreno as budget director, former Fort Collins Mayor Jeni James Arndt as director of rural advancement, and Deputy Attorney General Scott Steinbrecher as water adviser. Simpson, a fourth-generation farmer and rancher who leads the Rio Grande Water Conservation District, would succeed Kate Greenberg, and his nomination requires state Senate confirmation. Arndt’s appointment fulfills Weiser’s campaign pledge to establish a point person for rural Colorado; he plans to seek legislation making the role permanent after it was discontinued by Gov. Jared Polis. Weiser also announced his first Governor’s Office hires, including Natalie Hanlon Leh, currently a senior leader in the Colorado Department of Law, to oversee cabinet, operations and special initiatives. The appointments, which Weiser said reflect a commitment to collaboration and representation across the state, are the first of a broader wave of administration selections.