New US Senator from Colorado - Michael Bennet

Colorado media reports its Governor Bill Ritter (D-CO) will appoint Denver Public Schools superintendent Michael F. Bennet, tomorrow, as the replacement for the expected vacancy to be created by the confirmation of U.S. Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO) as Secretary of the Interior.

This is somewhat premature given that a vacancy in this U.S. Senate seat won't occur until after Obama becomes President.

However, it is will be seen as a sharp political move. Given the clouds of ethic concerns formed over the similar process to fill vacancies in New York and Illinois, Ritter's move to announce his intentions for Colorado make sense.

Bennet has been Denver's Superintendent since 2005. He's balanced the school district's budget, despite a 20% decline in funding and has instituted several reforms including a teacher merit-based pay type system.

Prior to employment with the Denver Schools, Bennet served as Chief of Staff to Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. Before being a government bureaucrat, he worked for a private investment company leading the reorganization of companies. He's a graduate of Yale Law School.