Michael Bennet, the superintendent of Denver’s public schools, will replace Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO) in the U.S. Senate when the incumbent becomes Interior Secretary for the Obama Administration. Governor Bill Ritter, a Democrat, will reportedly make the announcement on Saturday.

While Bennet has no legislative experience, he does have strong connections to Colorado’s political establishment:

Though he’s never run for office of any kind, Bennet, 44, has strong connections to Colorado’s power base: He’s been the school superintendent for 31/2 years and was Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper’s chief of staff. He also was managing director of Anschutz Investment Co from 1997-2003.

Bennet was educated in private schools and graduated from Wesleyan University. He went to law school at Yale University. He has strong Washington, D.C. connections. His father is Douglas Bennet, a diplomat.

Oh, and did I mention that he worked in the Clinton Administration’s Justice Department? Change!