Senate Swears In New Colorado Senator
Michael Bennet To Be Sworn In
POSTED: 5:35 am MST January 22, 2009
WASHINGTON -- Colorado gets a new senator today.Senate leaders say they will give the oath of office Thursday afternoon to Denver Democrat Michael Bennet, who replaces former Sen. Ken Salazar. On Tuesday, Salazar resigned his seat to become Interior secretary for President Barack Obama.Bennet is the replacement pick of Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter. Bennet is a lawyer-turned-businessman who became superintendent of Denver Public Schools in 2005. Bennet advised Obama on education policy last year during the presidential campaign and is a former adviser to Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper.
Ritter had asked voters for suggestions for the post and, according to emails obtained by The Associated Press under a Freedom of Information request, nobody suggested Bennet.Bennet will have to run for re-election in 2010, when Salazar's term would have ended. Bennet says he'll become the nation's first big-city schools superintendent to go on to the Senate.
Previous Stories:
- January 14, 2009: Ritter's Bennet Pick Continues To Stump Insiders
- January 3, 2009: Ritter Nominates Bennet To Fill Senate Vacancy
- January 3, 2009: Michael Bennet Expected To Be Named U.S. Senator
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