December 08, 2006 02:52 AM UTC

Salazar Loses Top Two Advisors

•  
• by: Colorado Pols

It was relatively big news when Jim Carpenter left his post under Sen. Ken Salazar to be Gov-Elect Bill Ritter’s Chief of Staff. But it really slipped under the radar that Salazar’s Chief of Staff Ken Lane stepped down and is moving back to Colorado. This happened so quietly, in fact, that most people we talked to didn’t even know about it.

As The Denver Post reportedly quietly two weeks ago:

The person in charge of Sen. Ken Salazar’s Washington D.C. operation is leaving and returning to Colorado.

Chief of Staff Ken Lane will move to Salazar’s Denver office as senior counsel. He will work on special projects such as security at Supermax and will help “develop legislative priorities for Colorado and oversee the Senator’s legislative record,” spokesman Cody Wertz said.

Lane has been with Salazar, a Democrat, since his first campaign for state Attorney General in 1998.

“I am saddened by his move back to Colorado, but I am happy he will be staying with my office and continue to be a key advisor,” Salazar said. “Ken Lane’s leadership, knowledge of Colorado issues and policy expertise helped me every step of the way as Colorado’s Attorney General and now as a United States Senator.”

Salazar has not yet announced a new chief-of-staff.