Gov. Bill Ritter will not consider a candidate’s party affiliation when determining whom to appoint as the next secretary of state, Ritter’s spokesman said.
It has been widely assumed that Ritter would appoint a fellow Democrat to the normally elected position, which current Secretary of State Mike Coffman, a Republican, is leaving after being elected to Congress. Putting a Democrat in the job would give the party control over every major statewide office except attorney general.
But Evan Dreyer, Ritter’s spokesman, said Ritter wants to make sure he puts the best candidate in the job, regardless of political leanings.
“The priority is to ensure that the operations and the functions of the secretary of state’s office are run to the highest possible degree,” Dreyer said. “. . . This is an extremely important office.”
Ritter has posted an application for the position online and has asked anyone interested in the appointment to apply. Applications are due today.
Two people who have been rumored for the post confirmed Friday they plan to apply: outgoing Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon and current federal Election Assistance Commission chairwoman Rosemary Rodriguez, both Democrats.
Gordon, who ran for secretary of state in 2006, said he planned to put the finishing touches on his application over the weekend. Rodriguez, a former Denver City Council president, said, “It’s likely that I will apply.”
Gilpin County Clerk Jessica Lovingier, a Republican, said she intended to apply. She said she didn’t think her affiliation would hurt her chances.
“The position should be a nonpartisan and unbiased position,” she said. “It should be based on your experience.”
None of the county clerks from the big metro-area counties said they were interested in the job when contacted Friday. Meanwhile, outgoing House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, another Democrat mentioned for the appointment, said he was undecided.
It wasn’t clear whether any other Republicans intended to apply for the job. Party chairman Dick Wadhams said he hadn’t heard of any Republicans seeking the appointment and said he thinks Ritter will probably pick a Democrat.
“I personally am not going to criticize Gov. Ritter at all if he appoints a Democrat,” Wadhams said. “The law is structured now that the governor can appoint whoever he wants.”
Ritter has selected a bipartisan seven-member panel to review applications for the job. That panel will pick finalists in early December. Ritter has said he hopes to pick a new secretary of state by late December.
John Ingold: 303-954-1068 or jingold@denverpost.com
