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January 06, 2011 01:10 AM UTC

John Salazar Named Agriculture Commissioner

  • 34 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

THURSDAY UPDATE: In today’s Durango Herald, John Salazar clarifies that with the Agriculture Commissioner job in hand, he will probably not make another run for CD-3 in 2012.

Last month, Salazar told The Durango Herald that he was open to a rematch against Tipton in 2012. But Wednesday, he said he had committed to serve four years in Hickenlooper’s cabinet.

“You never want to close the door on anything, but I am very happy to be back in Colorado and working on issues that are very, very important to me,” Salazar said.

—–

This just in from Gov-elect John Hickenlooper: former Rep. John Salazar, who owns a potato farm near Manassa, has been appointed state Commissioner of Agriculture–a position he is self-evidently highly qualified to hold. Nobody has said yet whether this will affect a possible 2012 rerun for Salazar’s CD-3 seat now held by Scott Tipton, but it doesn’t necessarily have to.

Full release after the jump. Says Hickenlooper, “Farmers and ranchers are also leading the way as business innovators. Their prosperity helps build a foundation for all of Colorado. And no one has been a more passionate champion for agriculture and rural communities than John Salazar.”

In related news, outgoing Agriculture Commissioner John Stulp has been appointed Special Policy Advisor to the Governor on water policy, and will chair the Interbasin Compact Committee.

John Salazar named Commissioner of Agriculture

DENVER – Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011 – Gov.-elect John Hickenlooper announced today John Salazar will be Commissioner of Agriculture.

A sixth-generation farmer and rancher, Salazar served three terms representing Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District and was a member of the House Agriculture Committee. Before his time in Congress, Salazar served in the Colorado General Assembly for two years.

“A thriving agriculture sector is critical to Colorado’s economic recovery,” Hickenlooper said. “Farmers and ranchers are also leading the way as business innovators. Their prosperity helps build a foundation for all of Colorado. And no one has been a more passionate champion for agriculture and rural communities than John Salazar. We are fortunate to have his leadership at the helm of the Department of Agriculture.”

Salazar’s advocacy in Congress earned him recognition for outstanding service by the American Farm Bureau and the Golden Triangle Award from the National Farmers Union. He played a key role in passing the historic farm bill of 2008. With a seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee in his third term, Salazar worked on national energy issues, jobs creation and the economy.

“I look forward to working with Gov.-elect Hickenlooper and serving the people of Colorado as the Commissioner of Agriculture for the next four years,” Salazar said. “I am excited about the great possibilities of expanding our energy opportunities along with marketing value-added products and promoting the second-largest economy in Colorado.”

Salazar was raised on a San Luis Valley farm, where he and his five siblings shared a bedroom and had no electricity or running water. His experience influenced his public career. He served on the Rio Grande Water Conservation District, the Colorado Agricultural Leadership Forum and the Colorado Agricultural Commission before being elected as a state Representative in 2002.

He was one of only a handful of active farmers in Congress after he was first elected in 2004. A veteran, Salazar served on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, and was a proud member of the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog congressional coalition.

Salazar earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Adams State College after serving three years in the U.S. Army.

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34 thoughts on “John Salazar Named Agriculture Commissioner”

  1. I do think this might open the door to another CD-3 challenger, though, even though you’re right it doesn’t have to. Sal Pace could take Tipton.

    1. Serious question (because I don’t know); how often does a not-by-choice-former win the next cycle?  I can only think of one major office, Clinton as Governor of AR.

      Anyway, Salazar can kick ass doing this and Pace do the same where he is now, in preparation for doing it in Congress.  Everyone wins!  (Except for Tipton hopefully)

      2. Phoenix Rising and RedGreen came up with two interesting precedents in an earlier diary about this subject:

        Baron Hill

        Indiana Rep. Barron Hill won his first two terms in office, lost to Mike Sodrel in 2004, won his seat back in 2006, and lost again this past year.

        “My grandfather didn’t come across the ocean to live in a country full of immigrants!” — Stephen Colbert

        by: Phoenix Rising @ Thu Dec 09, 2010 at 16:34:37 PM MST

        [ Parent | Reply ]

        Colorado’s own

        Don Brotzman almost fits your criteria. He was first elected to Congress in 1962, then lost his bid for reelection in 1964, and then returned to win back his seat and then another two terms. He lost to Tim Wirth in 1974 and that was it for his congressional career.  

        by: RedGreen @ Thu Dec 09, 2010 at 21:40:52 PM MST

        [ Parent | Reply ]

  2. John Salazar will be a good representative for Colorado’s ag community, with his own experience as a farmer and rancher, his experience in water issues, and his time in DC and work on the Farm Bill and more.  Good choice!

  4. Looks like Hickenlooper is providing DNR with the consistent leadership it needs, by keeping Mike King on Board there as Executive Director.  King has been reaching out statewide and working with folks where Colorado’s natural resources are located.  Another excellent choice by the Governor-elect!

  5. I posted in the Wed. open thread earlier this morning that this would happen today and that Stulp would be kept on in a position other than cabinet.

    And count on it, John will not run for the 3rd again.

    Sal’s problem in contemplating a 3rd CD run is that being Minority leader requires him to do things and take positions that will not play well in the 3rd.  Impossible as the Minority leader to take ‘moderate’ centrist positions that are key to running in the 3rd.

    1. Because according to your own comment history, your last comment on this blog was Thursday, November 4th. So thanks for the heads up, homeprotector or are we supposed to call you Roger D? Which do you prefer?

        1. Not taking anything away from that. I just like to know who I’m replying to and multiple personalities are tough to keep track of sometimes.  

      1. Congressman Salazar, in many ways, I must say he always looked uncomfortable in public. I don’t know him, other than brief chats at public events, but I always got the sense that he would rather have been outside somewhere, tossing a bale of hay or fixing the tractor.

        Just the same, I voted for him every time and would do so again. But I would also be surprised if he re-entered politics.

          1. this time around, as if he just assumed re-election would be no problem again unto il it was too late. I feel he kind of let Dems down.  We could have kept that seat if he had displayed the kind of energy we used to see from his brother Ken in running a campaign. But also feel he’ll be happier this way.

  7. but I think the Salazar appt is probably the weakest appt Hick has made.

    Yeah, he’s a farmer. Yeah he knows ag. But, what will motivate him to work?

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