Cleave Simpson, the fourth generation San Luis Valley farmer who has represented counties from the Valley west to the Utah state line in the Colorado Senate for two years, began as an unknown in Southwest Colorado. That’s because before the 2022 redistricting, Simpson’s 6th Senate District extended the other direction, from Wolf Creek Pass to the Kansas line. Now the 6th Senate District extends west from La Veta Pass to the Utah line.
Although new to these southwest counties, Simpson has been a quick learner. He has frequently been in Durango and in Cortez and has learned the geography, community leaders and opinion makers.
Simpson has experiences that are rare – no, missing – in the state Legislature. He’s a working farmer who has been a leader in instituting imaginative best-water-application techniques in the Valley that can potentially be applied elsewhere. He knows higher education as a past president of the Board of Trustees of Adams State University in Alamosa.
Simpson also confesses to having had his appreciation for what’s important in Colorado broadened during his first term in the Senate. Not chosen for agriculture or natural resources committees for some reason, and instead given health and human services, he said he quickly learned how expanded health care services were very much needed in rural Colorado, particularly to deal with addictions, and he has worked with members of both parties to make progress on these issues.
Opposing Simpson is Vivian Smotherman, who has lived in the area for four years, is retired from a career in oil and gas (including in Brazil), also has experience in wireless communications and in nonprofit advocacy. Smotherman cites the many nationalities she has worked with among her credits, and ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds.
The Herald’s editorial board believes incumbent Cleave Simpson is an especially strong representative for Southwest Colorado with his familiarity with agriculture, his progressive leadership in water uses, his bipartisan nature and advocacy for rural human services’ needs.
We join John Salazar (D), former congressman, and Ellen Roberts (R), former state senator from Durango with our endorsement.
Also a traditional Republican, increasingly difficult to find today, Simpson voted against the 2022 Reproductive Health Equity Act that codified a person’s right to make reproductive health care decisions without government interference. He does not, however, support a ban on abortion.
In his campaigning, Simpson cites the number of bipartisan bills he’s been a part of in the Democratic-controlled Senate, which should continue. His successes have come with some compromises, required when in the minority. The state needs more examples of members of both parties working together seeking solutions for their constituents.
Vote to continue Cleave Simpson as 6th Senate District representative.
