Congratulations to Dan Gibbs, the state senator from Silverthorne. He’s actually doing his job.
Gibbs announced this week that he won’t seek re-election in 2010 and instead will run for Summit County commissioner.
Unlike far too many lawmakers lately, Gibbs actually said he would complete his term.
That means that voters in his district, rather than a handful of party insiders, will get to choose his replacement.
One-third of state senators (including Gibbs) and nearly one-sixth of House members were appointed, not elected, to their office.
We’ve grown weary of watching term-limited lawmakers leaving office early in order to give their appointed successors the advantage of incumbency come election time.
Sure, Democratic Party insiders may prefer that their prominent son — Gibbs pioneered last year’s FASTER law to better fund transportation — resign so his successor could be anointed, but we think finishing the term his constituents elected him to is laudable.
Of course, the Democrat considering a run at Gibbs’ seat, Rep. Christine Scanlan, already enjoys a high profile since she also was appointed after Gibbs was appointed to the Senate in 2007.
See what we’re talking about?
