Southwest Colorado voters have gotten to know Cleave Simpson in the two and a half years that he’s represented this corner of the state as a thoughtful, easy-to-engage-with state senator who listens.
Why two and a half years? While Simpson was elected to his second four year term in November, between 2000 and 2002 his district, the 6th, extended from the San Luis Valley east to the Kansas state line. As a result of the 2002 redistricting, the 6th shifted west to the Utah line.
Simpson can say he has represented the breadth of southern Colorado, a significant distance that spans small rural partially agricultural counties and communities to mountain cities with stronger and more diversified economies.
Advanced last week to minority leader from assistant minority leader by fellow Republicans to fill a gap caused by a resignation (Herald, June 13), our expectation is that with Simpson’s leadership Senate Republicans will be able to at least partially insert their values and perspectives into legislative discussions and actions that could easily be otherwise dominated by the Democrats with their 2 to 1 Senate party advantage.
Simpson’s moderate judgment and his specific leadership in water issues will command respect.
In the session just ended, Simpson held leadership roles in legislation that added and improved aspects of behavioral health, water resources, mine reclamation and benefited the Ute tribes. He has a strong fiscal sense, as well, indicating the critical need to reduce the state’s spending in the coming year’s legislative session.
The Herald’s editorial board expects Sen. Cleave Simpson will be an unusually strong legislative leader in his new and significant role.
