Denver Schools Chief Named to Fill Senate Vacancy (Replacing Salazar) [View All]

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Source: Associated Press

Denver schools chief named to fill Senate vacancy

By STEVEN K. PAULSON, Associated Press Writer – 6 mins ago

DENVER – Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter on Saturday named Denver's public schools superintendent as his choice 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 campaigned for or held public office.

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. Salazar's nomination to head the Interior Department will be considered by the Senate. He has two years left in his term.

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Obama said in a statement that Bennet would be "a breath of fresh air in Washington."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090104/ap_on_go_co/us_senate_salazar