Top Owens' Aides On Way Out

Observers said such departures are normal for a governor at the end of his term. The state Constitution prohibits Owens from seeking another four years in office. “This is to be expected. This is one of the things we get with term limits,” said Colorado College political science professor Bob Loevy.

Douglas Benevento, executive director of the Department of Public Health and Environment, has accepted a job with the Greenberg Traurig law firm.

Michael Beasley, executive director of the Department of Local Affairs, will lobby state officials for Xcel Energy. In fact, he is filling a position that was held by Roy Palmer, Owens’ former chief of staff, after Palmer left the administration in 2004.

Chris Castilian, a deputy chief of staff, will go to work for powerhouse law firm Brownstein, Hyatt & Farber. He said he expects to work as a kind of Republican counterpart to Democratic ber-lobbyist Ted Trimpa, a shareholder at the firm. He said he also will continue to help the governor on an as-needed basis.