Gov. Bill Ritter has an important choice looming on the horizon.

Mike Coffman unfortunately came under fire largely as a result of seeking higher office. By running for congress only two years after becoming Secretary of State he caused his attention to be divided between campaigning and focusing on his office's duties. Even more disruptive was the fact that by running for congress he had painted a giant partisan bulls-eye on his back, every Democratic group in the state was taking shots at him and making it even harder for him to get his job done. Do we really want to repeat this when Andrew Romanoff or Bernie Buescher decide to run for congress or when Ken Gordon gets an itch to run a primary against Ken Salazar?

Rosemary Rodriguez, Sherry Jackson, and Jessica Lovingier all have served as county clerks. While Lovingier, a Republican, is a long-shot; Ritter ought to give priority to Rodriguez and Jackson if he is serious about making sure the office is in competent hands.

If Ritter would rather engage in transparent political pay-back and naked partisanship then Romanoff, Bueshcer, or Gordon would be excellent choices.

By opening the process up to applicants as opposed to simply appointing someone, Gov. Ritter is at least offering a ray of hope that he is honestly looking for the most qualified candidate. Let's hope he follows through.