Romanoff applies for Sec. of State job

Outgoing House Speaker Andrew Romanoff (D-Denver) said late Monday afternoon that he has submitted an application to become Secretary of State.

"I think that the goals of the office are important ones that I believe in very strongly: ensuring the integrity of the elections process, enhancing commerce -- that's part of the job -- and enabling citizens to participate in public life," Romanoff told PolitickerCO.com.

Romanoff said he didn't know exactly when he decided to run, but he said that he had thought about applying "off and on" since current Secretary of State Mike Coffman was elected to Congress on Nov. 4.

Romanoff hesitated when he was asked to confirm rumors that he had held out from applying for secretary of state because of the possibility that a U.S. Senate seat would open up if U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Denver) was appointed by President-elect Barack Obama as Secretary of the Interior. 

"I don't have an answer to that question," Romanoff said. "I think that's probably one domino too many to contemplate."

Romanoff, who was term-limited from running for state representative this year, submitted the application about five minutes before the 5 p.m. Monday deadline, said Romanoff spokeswoman Katie Reinisch.

At least five others have also applied to become secretary of state: Outgoing state Senate President Ken Gordon (D-Denver), talk show host and 1990 Democratic Secretary of State nominee Aaron Harber, Gilpin County Clerk and Recorder Jessica Lovingier, federal Election Assistance Commission Chairwoman Rosemary Rodriguez, and Denver Democratic Party Secretary Dan Willis.