Gov.-elect Bill Ritter nominated Rico Munn, a Denver attorney and member of the State Board of Education, on Tuesday to become the next executive director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Affairs.
Munn, a litigator in the Denver office of the Baker & Hostetler law firm, has represented the 1st Congressional District on the state board since January 2003. He was the first African-American member of the board.
Munn said he will submit his resignation from the state board when it meets Jan. 11. He also plans to resign from Baker & Hostetler this month.
He will assume the job after approval by the state Senate.
The Department of Regulatory Affairs is set up to protect Colorado citizens from fraudulent, dangerous, incompetent or unsafe products, professionals and businesses.
It oversees banks, telephone companies, doctors, insurance companies, electricians, accountants and other businesses.
Munn said he wants to help the department work closely with other state agencies to promote economic development.
“I’ve known Bill for a number of years, and I have a lot of faith and confidence in him and the Colorado promise,” Munn said of Ritter.
A vacancy committee from the Colorado Democratic Party is expected to meet within the next two weeks and appoint a replacement to complete Munn’s state board term, which ends in January 2009.
