Gov. Ritter’s chief of staff moves on

Gov. Bill Ritter has announced that his chief of staff, Jim Carpenter, will depart the

administration Dec. 17.

“Jim has been a lynchpin in moving our agenda forward,” Gov. Ritter said. “His efforts have been central to our many successes¸ and my administration and the people of Colorado have benefited from his ability to manage complex issues under tough circumstances calmly and without fanfare.”

Carpenter will join veteran public affairs consultant Mike Stratton as a principal in a renamed firm, Stratton-Carpenter Associates.

Carpenter was hired as chief of staff shortly after Ritter’s gubernatorial election four years ago. Carpenter managed Ken Salazar’s successful 2004 U.S. Senate campaign, then served as Sen. Salazar’s state director until joining the Ritter Administration in November 2006. Carpenter also has served as head of public affairs at National Jewish Health, as director of communications and chief of staff for former Gov. Roy Romer, and in several capacities for former U.S. Sen. Tim Wirth.

“As Jim moves ahead to new opportunities, I want to thank him for his long service to our state and for his deep commitment to Colorado,” Ritter said.