Ritter gave only 1 candidate a second interview - Bennet

By Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published January 6, 2009 at 12:05 a.m.

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Only one of the 15 candidates Gov. Bill Ritter interviewed for the U.S. Senate post got a second interview: Michael Bennet, who ultimately landed the job.

Ritter said Monday his second interview with Bennet, superintendent of Denver Public Schools, lasted several hours. They discussed various issues and the work of the U.S. Senate.

The governor's choice of a dark horse like Bennet stunned Coloradans in both parties, but particularly supporters of the two leading contenders: outgoing House Speaker Andrew Romanoff and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper.

"I know a lot of people are disappointed," Ritter conceded. "They haven't gotten to the place where they have any opportunity to meet Michael. They'll get that opportunity. I don't think anybody is going to work harder than Michael Bennet in the next two years."

Ritter said he was with former U.S. Sen. Gary Hart of Colorado in early December when Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was accused of trying to sell the Senate seat vacated by President-elected Barack Obama.

"(Hart) said, 'Thank God you don't have to replace a U.S. Senate seat. That's an awful thing. You'll get . . . six enemies.' "

Bennet must run for the seat in 2010.

Ritter said he and Bennet discussed education reform and other issues during Ritter's 2006 gubernatorial run, but Bennet was not one of his chief advisers. The governor said he sought input from Hart about the work of the Senate and its level of conflict.

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