Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter is expected to name Denver public schools superintendent Michael Bennet to fill a Senate vacancy created by the promotion of Sen. Ken Salazar to Interior secretary in the Obama administration, sources said Friday.
One source close to the governor, who is in a position to know and another source in the Democratic Party, said that Bennet is Ritter's choice. Both spoke on condition of anonymity.
Bennet had been mentioned as a possible choice for Obama's education secretary, but Obama chose 44-year-old Arne Duncan, chief executive officer of Chicago public schools for that Cabinet post.
Bennet was considered a dark horse candidate for the Senate spot because of his lack of legislative experience.
The decision was seen as a difficult one for Ritter, a first-term governor, because Democrats want someone who can raise enough money to keep Salazar's seat, which comes up for election in 2010. Salazar had raised more than $2 million for re-election.
Other potential successors mentioned earlier included Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, who won favor by hosting a successful Democratic National Convention this year, and Salazar's brother, U.S. Rep. John Salazar.
U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette said last month that she'd gotten several calls encouraging her to seek an appointment. Another candidate is Democratic Rep. Ed Perlmutter, who took a traditionally Republican seat in suburban Denver in 2006.
Ritter had been known for appointing committees to study difficult issues before taking action.
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