Michael Bennet chosen as next Senator

[El Supremo]

Source: The Denver Post

Denver Public Schools Superintendent Michael Bennet has been chosen to fill the U.S. Senate seat, sources close to the process confimed this morning.

Bennet would fill the seat after the confirmation of Ken Salazar as Interior Secretary.

Gov. Bill Ritter is expected to formally introduce Bennet as his choice on Saturday.

After an array of candidates put their names forward for selection, the choice came down to Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper or Bennet, Hickenlooper's former chief of staff. After spending a long holiday weekend in the mountains last week, Ritter began to focus on Bennet. The two men then discussed the choice on New Year's Day and the pick was solidified, according to sources close to the process.

Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_11355396

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This is a surprise to me.

[rockymountaindem]

1. I'm stunned

I mean, with our whole stable of talent ranging from Pearlmutter to Romanoff, he picked what amounts to a no-name. I wonder what the reasoning is.

[Cha]

5. Maybe Michael Bennet is

just really really good?

[rockymountaindem]

9. Reading Ichingcarpenter's post makes me think so

However, I still think it would have been cool to see a bunch of our current politicos move up a notch, since we have such a good bench here. I wonder what Romanoff's next move will be.

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. I'm glad it wasn't Salazar's relative: here's his Bio and picture from DPS

Prior to his superintendency, Bennet served for two years as the Chief of Staff to Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. Highlights of his accomplishment at the city include: closing an initial 10 percent budget gap in the first two months of office; balancing two consecutive budgets in Denver's worst recession in history while preserving city services and avoiding layoffs almost entirely; conducting five collective bargaining negotiations; devising strategies to pass five ballot initiatives; and assembling a very diverse widely-acknowledged leadership team for the city.

He worked for six years prior to his tenure at the City of Denver as Managing Director for the Anschutz Investment Company in Denver, where he had direct responsibility for the investment of over $500 million. He led the reorganizations of four distressed companies including Forcenergy (which later merged with Denver-based Forest Oil), Regal Cinemas, United Artists and Edwards Theaters, which together required the restructuring of over $3 billion in debt. Bennet also managed, on behalf of Anschutz, the consolidation of the three theater chains into Regal Entertainment Group, the largest motion picture exhibitor in the world. Prior to moving to Denver, Bennet served as Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General in the Clinton Administration.

Bennet earned his bachelor's degree in history with honors from Wesleyan University and his law degree from Yale Law School, where he was the Editor-in-Chief of The Yale Law Journal.
http://communications.dpsk12.org/newsroom/353/224/

[MADem]

3. Jesus, he's got the resume, anyway. What a workhorse!

And he even has the intellect, based on his educational resume. Does he have the personality and the people skills?

Sometimes, no-name is a GOOD thing. The old "Tabula Rasa." It helped Obama. Why not this guy?

[Ichingcarpenter]

7. I worked in the DPS and it seems he straighten out part of its problems

After I left. DPS is a large school district and hugely political, so he must have some people skills
I'm so glad Salazar didn't get it.

[Cha]

4. Thanks for this quick

bio of Bennet, Iching!

[Hawkeye-X]

6. Might want to append the title a little bit - something like (Salazar's D-CO's replacement)

so we know who's who.

[El Supremo]

12. I followed the rules.

Besides, people would want to read the story to find out who Bennet is.

[shifting_sands]

8. Michael Bennet

Bennet is an excellent choice except he might be too nice. He is all about education and has done an outstanding job as Supertendent of Schools in Denver. He is a moderate progressive and a "get things done guy." He does fly under the radar and will be a better Senator than Salazar, his only real problem is he seems to be way too trusting for the tumble of politics. Hickenlooper would have had the same issues. He will be focused on education and I think would have made a better Education Director in the Obama cabinet. Nonetheless, he is a great guy, works very well with others, has been around politics in this state but in the background. Colorado isn't at all upset over the choice, but is surprised, not so much that it was offered to him but that he accepted.

[Ichingcarpenter]

11. I wanted DeGette but this guy has a little better chance of holding the Seat

He has a better chance of winning or pulling red votes in Conservative areas of Colorado.

Colorado isn't blue, blue but its getting better.

[nbcouch]

15. Huh? Not blue enough for ya??

Colorado voted for a Dem for president, for only the second time in the last 40 years. Dems hold the Governor's office, both Houses of the State legislature, and all but two seats of the Congressional delegation. It doesn't get much bluer than that. Even my county (Arapahoe) voted for Barack, the first Dem to win here since LBJ.

[shifting_sands]

10. Bennet

He also doesn't like the "No Child Left Behind Act" and is a strong believer in Special Education for those who need it, no matter the reason.

[Ichingcarpenter]

13. That's very encouraging to hear

and gets kudos from me.

[El Supremo]

14. Profile of Michael Bennet:

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_11222405

[question everything]

16. Glad to hear, since I've heard that Salazar's brother was inline

to succeed him. Especially if Kennedy is selected, we really do not need anymore dynasties.