Ritter's chief of staff to leave job

Gov. Bill Ritter's chief of staff is leaving the post to return to the private sector.

Jim Carpenter, who has held the job since Ritter became governor, plans to join a public affairs firm.

Carpenter managed U.S. Interior secretary Ken Salazar's successful 2004 run for a U.S. Senate seat and also worked for former Gov. Roy Romer and former U.S. Sen. Timothy Wirth.

He'll work with Mike Stratton, another former Salazar staffer, at a public affairs firm.