DENVER—Saying it’s time for a fresh approach to solving problems, Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter on Saturday named Denver’s public schools superintendent to fill a Senate vacancy that will be created by the promotion of Sen. Ken Salazar to interior secretary in the Obama administration.
The move surprised many Republicans and Democrats, who considered schools superintendent Michael Bennet a dark horse candidate for the Senate spot because of his lack of legislative experience. The 44-year-old Democrat has never run for or held public office.
“This is a critical time in history. The economic challenges facing America and Colorado are unprecedented. Our challenges are so serious that it will take a new generation of leaders, a new way of thinking and a bold new approach to problem-solving to steer us through this,” Ritter said.
Salazar’s nomination to head the Interior Department will be considered by the Senate. The Democrat has two years left in his term.
Bennet acknowledged his lack of legislative and political experience, but promised to be a fast learner. He said he plans to travel the state and educate voters on his views on major issues, and he promised to run for the seat in the 2010 general election.
“I feel like I come to this job knowing a lot about what a senator needs to do but nowhere near what I’m going to need to know,” he told a packed crowd at a news conference in the foyer of the state Capitol.
Bennet said there are many paths to the U.S. Senate and not all of them involve politics.
Republicans quickly seized on his lack of political experience and lack of a voting record, promising a bruising fight for the seat in two years.
“He had an opportunity today to come out and tell the people of Colorado where he stands on many tough issues he’ll be voting on in the U.S. Senate and he wouldn’t do it,” said Colorado Republican Party chairman Dick Wadhams, who attended the announcement. “You cannot vote ‘present’ in the United States Senate, you have to vote and we’ll know at some point.”
Fellow Democrats moved quickly to try to shore up support for Bennet and express confidence he can keep the seat.
“There are some, including some of you who are in this audience, who have put a question mark on whether or not Michael Bennet can be elected in 2010,” Salazar said. “When you look at who Michael Bennet is and what his values are, let the message go out loud and clear across the state that Michael Bennet will be a great senator and he will win the election in 2010.”
Wadhams said the race will be one of the top races in the country in two years. He said GOP Attorney General John Suthers is already planning to launch his campaign for the seat and others are lining up.
Bennet had been mentioned as a possible choice for President-elect Barack Obama’s education secretary, but Obama chose 44-year-old Arne Duncan, chief executive officer of Chicago public schools for the Cabinet post.
Obama said in a statement that Bennet would be “a breath of fresh air in Washington.”
“Michael Bennet perfectly reflects the qualities of the ruggedly independent state he has been chosen to serve,” Obama said.
