DENVER (AP) - Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter has appointed Denver's public schools superintendent to fill a Senate vacancy that will be created by the promotion of Sen. Ken Salazar to interior secretary in the Obama administration.
Many Republicans and Democrats considered schools superintendent Michael Bennet a dark horse candidate for the Senate spot because of his lack of legislative experience.
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.
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