December 26, 2008
Soon, four new U.S. Senators will be appointed by four state Governors. To date, only Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s procedures for making such an appointment have received critical press coverage. This coverage has been due, however, to the fact Blagojevich has been the target of a long-standing grand jury investigation and, shortly before the election, was wiretapped along with one of his aides.
In Delaware, Governor Ruth Ann Minner selected an aide to Vice President-elect Joseph Biden to fill Biden’s empty Senate seat, an aide who will “keep the seat warm” so Biden’s son can run for the office in 2010. No discussion has been offered or demanded by the media regarding the appointed Senator’s background, financial disclosures, pertinent alliances, or positions on the many critical issues facing the people of Delaware.
In New York, Governor David Paterson has not yet selected a replacement for nominated Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, but Caroline Kennedy has hired a political consultant and is mounting a major campaign for the seat. Regardless of the person Paterson appoints, there ought to be discussions around that potential Senator’s political background and positions on critical issues, especially on the trillions of dollars his/her Wall Street constituents are currently spending on behalf of taxpayers from across the country.
In Colorado, Governor Bill Ritter has openly abandoned the application and selection commission process he recently opted to use in the appointment of a new Secretary of State and is instead selecting a new Senator to replace nominated Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar through direct appointment. This choice, while entirely within the Governor’s purview, contradicts arguments for the formation of a selection commission earlier this year when the Secretary of State position became available, and leaves voters in Colorado wondering why the Governor chose to avoid directly appointing the Secretary of State but apparently wants more control over the selection of a new U.S. Senator from his state.
It is rumored that Governor Ritter will appoint Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper to this seat. We hope Governor Ritter will consider Congresswoman Diana DeGette, the longest-serving member of the Colorado Congressional delegation, for this honor. Congresswoman DeGette also happens to be a woman, a perfect fit in this “transformational” election year. Colorado has never had a woman Senator or Governor, and DeGette is available for service due to her qualifications and experience, not lineage. She also already works in Washington, a significant advantage for any new Senator.
It has been suggested that whether the Governor uses an open application system or a selection commission to assist in the selection process as he did in replacing the Secretary of State, or opts to use the current closely held system, his choices are narrowed to three Anglo men: Hickenlooper, Colorado Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff, and Colorado Congressman Ed Pearlmutter. It has also been speculated that Governor Ritter will appoint Mayor Hickenlooper so the Mayor will not run against Ritter for the Governor’s office in 2010.
Governor Ritter has been quoted as saying he would select the best possible person for the job.
Who would that be? Someone who has served with distinction in Congress the longest of any Coloradan of either party? Someone whose votes and positions are part of the public record? Someone who has distinguished herself in taking the lead in stem cell research? Someone who has filed current financial disclosure statements?
The Governor cited geographical diversity in naming the Secretary of State...Western Slope representation. In this case, he can appoint the most qualified person in the entire state—and make Colorado history at the same time.
—Sherry Seiber
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