Colorado's Governor has chosen the replacement for Senator Salazar

Both the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News are reporting that the Governor of Colorado, Bill Ritter, has chosen the replacement for Senator Salazar. From the Denver Post:

Denver Public Schools Superintendent Michael Bennet has been chosen to fill the U.S. Senate seat, sources close to the process confimed this morning.

Bennet would fill the seat after the confirmation of Ken Salazar as Interior Secretary.

Gov. Bill Ritter is expected to formally introduce Bennet as his choice on Saturday.

After an array of candidates put their names forward for selection, the choice came down to Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper or Bennet, Hickenlooper's former chief of staff. After spending a long holiday weekend in the mountains last week, Ritter began to focus on Bennet. The two men then discussed the choice on New Year's Day and the pick was solidified, according to sources close to the process.

That sounds quite dignified compared to what's been taking place in Illinois.