Phil Weiser, a Democrat, defeated Republican Victor Marx by roughly 26 percentage points in unofficial results Tuesday, and wasted little time turning to the work of organizing his incoming administration. As part of that effort, Weiser launched a transition website where people can apply for roles in his government and offer ideas about how state agencies could be improved.
Four people will serve as co-leads of the transition effort: Pat Meyers, who previously served as chief of staff under Gov. John Hickenlooper; Omar Montgomery, who heads the Rocky Mountain State Conference of the NAACP; Meg Porfido, who held both the general counsel and chief of staff roles under Gov. Roy Romer; and Alan Salazar, once chief of staff to Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and currently the CEO of Denver Water.
Joining them in an honorary capacity are former Colorado Gov. Roy Romer; Federico Peña, who held cabinet posts as both the nation's transportation secretary and energy secretary; Ken Salazar, whose résumé spans service as Colorado's attorney general, a U.S. Senate seat, the Interior Department, and the ambassadorship to Mexico; and Rebecca Kourlis, a former Colorado Supreme Court justice.
Weiser said in a statement that his administration is committed to "building a better future for all Coloradans" and that his transition would focus on assembling what he described as "the best team in the country." He credited the transition leaders he selected for their dedication and said he was "honored" they had stepped up, citing their shared commitment to "serving the public with integrity and creativity, while listening and collaborating to get results."
Working groups will cover seven policy domains. Seth Levine and Kathy Nesbitt will guide consumer services and regulatory affairs; Matt Baca and Meyers will concentrate on economic growth, education, and workforce matters; and Katherine Archuleta and Keirstin Beck will take on energy, natural resources, agriculture, and environmental health.
Health and human services, including insurance oversight, will be handled by former Secretary of State Bernie Buescher alongside Arapahoe County Commissioner Carrie Warren-Gully. Amy Hansen and Wendell Pryor will be responsible for local affairs and transportation. Former House Speaker Terrance Carroll and 20th Judicial District Attorney Michael Dougherty will lead the portfolio covering public safety, corrections, and military and veterans affairs, while Ernest House Jr., representing the Ute Mountain Ute tribe, will guide work on tribal affairs and the Colorado Commission on Indian Affairs.
How the transition effort proceeds and what appointments ultimately follow from it remain to be seen in the weeks ahead.