Former Denver Mayor Federico Peña, whose name has been mentioned as a possible candidate to fill the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Ken Salazar, says he is not interested in taking the job.
In a statement released today, Peña, who has been a Colorado adviser for President-elect Barack Obama, said he plans to continue helping him.
“It is my desire to remain in Colorado and to continue to advise and assist President-elect Obama in any way I can from my home in Denver,” he said.
Peña was a Cabinet member in the Clinton administration and helped Obama by campaigning and wooing Latino voters in Colorado during the election.
Salazar has been nominated to be the next secretary of the interior.
Others thought to be in the running for the Senate seat include Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, U.S. Rep. John Salazar, House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, state Treasurer Cary Kennedy, U.S. Reps. Ed Perlmutter and Diana DeGette, state Senate President Peter Groff and former U.S. Attorney Henry Solano.
Annette Espinoza: 303-954-1655 or aespinoza@denverpost.com
