Gov. Jared Polis announced Wednesday that current Summit County Commissioner Dan Gibbs will serve in his cabinet as the next executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. The announcement was made a day after Gibbs was formally sworn in for his third term as commissioner.<\/p>\n
In the coming weeks, Gibbs will sit for a confirmation hearing before the state Senate\u2019s Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. If the committee approves the appointment, Gibbs\u2019 nomination will go before the full state Senate for confirmation.<\/p>\n
If confirmed, Gibbs would head one of the state\u2019s most important departments. The Department of Natural Resources oversees the Colorado Avalanche Information Center; the Division of Forestry; the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety; the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission; Colorado Parks and Wildlife; the State Land Board; the Colorado Water Conservation Board; and the Division of Water Resources.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an amazing honor, and I thank Gov. Polis for granting me the opportunity,\u201d Gibbs said. \u201cColorado\u2019s unique natural resources are so integral to our identity as a state, and I can\u2019t overstate how humbling it is to be joining the dedicated team that\u2019s tasked with guiding our collective stewardship of these resources.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gibbs, a Democrat, will vacate his seat as county commissioner for District 1 if confirmed, which comprises the town of Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, the town of Blue River and most of the unincorporated southern portion of the county.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Gibbs\u2019 interim successor will be chosen from candidates residing in District 1 by a Democratic vacancy committee, made up of elected county Democrats and party officers. The successor\u2019s appointment will last until the next county general election in 2020, at which point the people will vote for a successor to finish the last two years of Gibbs\u2019 original term.<\/p>\n With term limitations on Commissioners Thomas Davidson and Karn Stieglemeier, 2020 will see all three commissioner seats up for election at the same time.<\/p>\n \u201cDan will be sorely missed here in Summit County, but we couldn\u2019t be more excited to have him at the Department of Natural Resources,\u201d Stiegelmeier said in a press release. \u201cDan\u2019s knowledge of and respect for our land, air, water and wildlife make him an amazing fit for this vital role in Colorado.\u201d<\/p>\n Gibbs said his appointment is bittersweet, knowing he will have to leave the county and the position he has served for eight years.<\/p>\n \u201cThe downside is that I\u2019ll be leaving my position as Summit County commissioner, which has been the most rewarding work I\u2019ve ever done in my professional career,\u201d Gibbs said. \u201cSummit County is truly an amazing place, and the government an amazing organization. I\u2019ve worked really hard over the years for our community, and in the future I\u2019ll be working just as hard for the rest of the state of Colorado.\u201d<\/p>\n Gibbs said that he plans to implement the governor\u2019s vision for protecting and enhancing the state\u2019s natural resources. As a certified wildland firefighter who has guided the county\u2019s effective fire mitigation efforts, Gibbs plans to make wildfire mitigation a priority at the state level, along with other duties vested in a position that oversees a huge chunk of the state\u2019s economy and cultural heritage.<\/p>\nRecommended Stories For You<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n