FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 10, 2026
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Gov.-Elect Phil Weiser Announces Cabinet Appointees
Appointees Demonstrate Weiser’s Commitment to Collaboration Across Colorado
(DENVER) – Today, Gov.-elect Phil Weiser announced a round of Cabinet appointees, which include a former Senate Democratic leader, former mayor, and former Senate Republican leader. Today’s announcement demonstrates Weiser’s commitment to collaboration across Colorado and to building an administration inclusive of all viewpoints.
The announcement also fulfills one of Weiser’s key campaign commitments to elevate the Rural Advancement Director and Water Advisor to Cabinet-level positions.
“Communities across Colorado face a range of challenges, and I’m committed to working with diverse leaders to solve our biggest problems,” Gov.-elect Weiser said. “My administration will represent all of Colorado – and I’m proud to announce my latest appointees, which demonstrates my commitment to building a collaborative administration that’s inclusive of voices from across Colorado and the political spectrum. As governor, I will ensure that Coloradans from all walks of life have a seat at the table – because that’s the only way we will be ready on day one to make state government work better and build a brighter future for all Coloradans.”
Last week, Weiser launched his transition website, where individuals can apply for positions in his administration and submit ideas to make state government work better. Coloradans can visit the website by going to WeiserTogether.org.
This round of Weiser’s Cabinet appointees are:
State Sen. Cleave Simpson, Agriculture Commissioner:
Republican Senate Minority Leader Cleave Simpson will be nominated to serve as Agriculture Commissioner. Upon confirmation, as Commissioner, Simpson will lead Colorado’s Department of Agriculture, which aims to strengthen and advance Colorado agriculture, promote a safe and high-quality food supply, protect consumers, and foster responsible stewardship of the environment and natural resources.
Simpson is a graduate of the Colorado School of Mines and Alamosa High School. During his engineering career, he and his family lived and worked in Texas and Australia. He and his wife, Cathy, returned home to Alamosa and the San Luis Valley in 2014 to help his father, Alan, operate the Simpson family farming and ranching operations. His return to the San Luis Valley also led to his employment with the Rio Grande Water Conservation District, where he has served as general manager since 2016.
Simpson has represented Alamosa and southwest Colorado in the state Senate since 2021. He became the Colorado Senate Republican Leader in 2025.
Jeni Arndt, Director of Rural Advancement:
Former Fort Collins Mayor and former State Rep. Jeni Arndt will serve as Director of Rural Advancement. Arndt previously served as mayor of Fort Collins, where she was first elected in 2021 and re-elected in 2023. She previously served in the Colorado House of Representatives for District 53 from 2015 to 2021, where she held leadership roles, including Assistant Majority Caucus Chair, and chaired the House committee focused on agriculture, natural resources, and water policy.
Arndt has an M.A. in Geography from the University of Colorado in Boulder and an M.A. in Special Education from Purdue University.
Scott Steinbrecher, Senior Director of Water Policy:
Scott Steinbrecher will serve as the Senior Director of Water Policy, a role that will build coordinated water policy planning and implementation across state government – with a focus on innovation, infrastructure, and shared priorities across urban and rural Colorado.
Steinbrecher currently serves as the Deputy Attorney General for Natural Resources and Environment. In this role, Steinbrecher oversees a team of 70 lawyers and staff who represent agencies within the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Public Health and Environment. Steinbrecher has a deep history in Colorado water law – including serving as the attorney general’s lead advisor on water policy and related litigation matters. He has represented the State in various interstate compact negotiations and disputes, and led the team of the 15 attorneys representing the Colorado State Engineer, Colorado Water Conservation Board, and the State’s compact commissioners. He has a J.D. from Boston University Law School. He grew up in Glenwood Springs.
Dominick Moreno, Director of the Governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB):
Dominick Moreno will serve as the Director of the Governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB). Moreno previously served on the Legislature’s Joint Budget Committee, the principal committee tasked with balancing Colorado’s state budget each year, and chaired the committee twice. Moreno served as Majority Leader of the Colorado Senate from February 2022 until September 2023, prior to accepting an appointment as Deputy Chief of Staff to then newly elected Denver Mayor Mike Johnston.
Moreno attended Georgetown University and graduated with a degree in American Government. His commitment to using his education to benefit his community led to his election to the city council in Commerce City at the age of 24 – the youngest member in city history. Moreno went on to serve in the Colorado House of Representatives for two terms before being elected to the Colorado Senate in 2016.
For more information about Gov.-elect Weiser’s transition and to apply for jobs in his administration, visit WeiserTogether.org.
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