January 15, 2009 06:09 PM UTC

Everybody Loves Bernie

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• by: Colorado Pols

As the Grand Junction Sentinel reports:

Former state Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction, was sworn in Wednesday as Colorado’s 36th secretary of state on the heels of the state Senate unanimously voting in favor of seating him.

“I regard the position of Secretary of State, in many ways, as the guardian of our system of a republican form of government in this state,” Buescher said after taking his oath of office. “I will do everything in my power to make that process as transparent and effective as it possibly can be.”

…Ahead of the vote, Buescher’s nomination received a healthy heaping of praise from lawmakers of all stripes.

“I’m thrilled to have you step over to the other side of the street,” Sen. Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs, said.

Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction, called Buescher’s nomination the “right choice and a smart choice on the part of Gov. Bill Ritter.”