STATE BILL COLORADO

The top administrative position at the Colorado Senate is in transition.

Karen Goldman, the secretary of the Senate, is out. Her No. 2 for the past two years, Cindi Markwell, is the interim Senate secretary, and she likely will be given the job full-time when the legislative session starts Jan. 12.

John Cevette, chief of staff to Senate President Brandon Shaffer, on Wednesday confirmed Goldman’s departure. Her last day was Nov. 4. Cevette said she was terminated, but he said state personnel rules don’t allow him to say more than that.

Markwell worked for 28 years in the Colorado Office of Legislative Legal Services and was the head legal assistant there. Goldman recruited her to the deputy’s job two years ago. Markwell told State Bill she was thinking of retiring but altered her plans when asked to.

The Senate secretary’s job is one of six nonpartisan managerial jobs at the Capitol. Capitol observers said Goldman’s termination didn’t appear to be politically motivated, and they noted that Markwell is a longtime nonpartisan staffer, so politics didn’t play a role in her apparent hiring, either.

The Senate’s top leadership, Shaffer and Senate Minority Leader Mike Kopp, have met on both staffing changes and will consider Markwell’s appointment at the start of the session, Cevette said.

Goldman could not be immediately reached.

Goldman had two stints at the Senate secretary, first in 2001 for two years and again in 2005 until this month.