Ritter Names Committee to Help Choose New Secretary of State

Gov. Bill Ritter appointed today a committee aimed at assisting him in choosing a replacement for Secretary of State Mike Coffman.

The committee, which will have seven members, will review applications submitted by Nov. 17 and recommend three finalists to the governor in December.

"It’s one of the most important positions in state government," Ritter said. "This selection committee will provide a broad spectrum of insights, perspectives and guidance as we select a replacement for departing Secretary Mike Coffman.”

Committee members include:


- Frank Daniels, former district attorney for the 21st Judicial District in Mesa County. Daniel served as district attorney from 1993 to 2005. He currently works in private practice and runs a small business in Grand Junction.

- Tom Downey, president of the Children’s Museum of Denver. Downey is an attorney who has worked in both the public and private sectors. He is the current chair of the board of the Colorado Nonprofit Association.

- Scott Doyle, Larimer County clerk and recorder. Doyle began his tenure with the county in 1995. He was chief deputy clerk and recorder from October 2000 until his election as clerk and recorder in November 2002, creating and first utilizing the Vote Center concept in 2003. He was re-elected clerk and recorder in November 2006.

- Sandy Gutierrez, president and CEO of the Pueblo Latino Chamber of Commerce. She currently serves on Gov. Ritter’s Jobs Cabinet and is the vice chair of the Pueblo Human Relations Commission, which she helped co-found.

- Rico Munn, executive director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. Prior to becoming executive director in January 2007, Munn was a private-practice litigation attorney. He served on the State Board of Education from 2003 to 2007.

- Carol Snyder, former Adams County clerk and recorder. Snyder served on the Northglenn City Council for three years and in the Colorado House of Representatives from January 1991 to January 1999. She is currently the Adams County public trustee.

- Geoff Wilson, general counsel for the Colorado Municipal League. Wilson helps draft legislation and represents the league before the state legislature, state agencies and the courts on matters affecting municipalities. He has been with the league since 1987.

Coffman, a Republican, was elected to represent Colorado's 6th district in the U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 4. He previously served as state treasurer and as a member of the General Assembly.