January 05, 2009 06:41 AM UTC

Ritter's appointment betrays Romanoff

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• by: wade norris

I moved to Colorado in 2000. That was also the start of my ‘politico’ days. One of my introductions to Colorado politics included meeting Andrew Romanoff, along with several other organizers, in his home for coffee. I thought, ‘whose this guy?’ and left with an impression that Mr.Romanoff was a ‘nice guy’.

Two years later, I re-met him at a Renter’s Rights meeting. Watching him talk to people patiently and kindly about the issues of us lowly ‘renters’ and what we needed to have for a decent place to live, convinced me that Andrew Romanoff actually cared. Why does this matter? read on…

By the way – the youtube for the interview and sucessful Renter’s Rights bill.

I will be the first to admit,I don’t know the deal making that goes on behind closed doors for a Senate Seat. But when I look at the resume of someone like Andrew Romanoff, who was bandied about 2 years ago as a Gubernatorial candidate, I can’t believe that Ritter has best considered all options for this appointment.

While I have been silent on most subjects since the 2008 election, I will state that while I do not fully agree with David Sirota’s attack on Michael Bennett, I am well prepared to examine the Governor’s pick, not based on Mr. Bennett’s qualifications, but rather on the Governor’s lack of explanation for passing over several other qualified candidates, each of whom have served office and ‘earned their stripes’ in Colorado politics… Perlmutter, Fitzgerald, DeGette, etc. not least of which is Former House Majority Leader, Andrew Romanoff.

Maybe it doesn’t matter, maybe the Colorado GOP can’t field a contender vs. any Dem in 2010, so it doesn’t matter. But for guys like me, and people like me, who watch this process, it makes little sense.