GREELEY - U.S. Sen. Michael Bennett, D-Colo., who was sworn in Jan. 22 to fill the seat vacated by U.S. Interior Department Secretary Ken Salazar, will speak Jan. 31 in Greeley.

Bennett's appearance is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at the Greeley Senior Activity Center, 1010 Sixth St. The event is open to the public, but organizers ask those wanting to attend to RSVP by e-mail to bennetreception@gmail.com.

The senator will also appear later Saturday at a reception open to $100 contributors to the Weld County Democratic Party. County chairwoman Pat Waak will host the event at 6:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Greeley Building, 710 11th Ave. For more information, call 970-351-7047.

Bennett is the former superintendent of Denver Public Schools, served as Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper's chief of staff and began his career as a corporate lawyer. Gov. Bill Ritter chose him to take over Salazar's unexpired Senate term when Salazar was selected for President Barack Obama's cabinet.