PUEBLO, Colo.—A Pueblo County commissioner is resigning as part of a chain of job shifts involving three Democrats.
Commissioner Loretta Kennedy said Wednesday she will resign in 30 days to go to work for U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo.
She will replace Sal Pace, who is resigning to seek a state House seat now held by Democrat Dorothy Butcher.
Butcher plans to run for a Pueblo County commission seat next year when term limits keep her from running for the House seat again.
County Democratic Party Chairman Terry Hart said Kennedy’s position will be filled within 10 days of her departure. It wasn’t immediately clear if Butcher would apply, and she declined to discuss the specifics of her plans.
“I had no idea that (Kennedy) was not going to finish her term, so this is a substantial change from what we were expecting,” she said. “We’re certainly interested in pursuing that, but I’m also giving serious consideration to completing my term.”
John Cordova, a retired highway engineer who was defeated by Kennedy in the 2004 primary, also plans to run for the commission again.
Pace is also likely to have competition in the race for the District 46 House seat. Chuck Rodosevich, the local Democratic Party chairman until early this year, is expected to run.
Kennedy called joining Salazar’s staff “a fabulous opportunity.”
“He is dedicated to the same issues I have been focusing on, especially preserving our water and agriculture, and it’s an honor for me to be offered this job,” she said.
