Add “legislative lobbyist” to the Gov. John Hickenlooper needs to fill: Tracee Bentley is leaving the administration to focus on energy priorities for the .
Three staffers for Gov. John Hickenlooper — lobbyist Tracee Bentley, corrections chief Rick Raemisch and policy guy John Swartout — at the Colorado State Fair’s legislative dinner in Pueblo in 2014. Bentley is leaving state government. (Lynn Bartels, The Denver Post)
The group today announced is is creating the Colorado Petroleum Council that will focus on hydraulic fracturing and energy infrastructure and other issues. Bentley http://www.api.org/such. , as the state seeks to create jobs, generate more revenue to the government, and produce more domestic energy. Bentley, who will oversee the group, begins her new job on March 2.
Hickenlooper tapped Bentley in June of 2013 to serve as his point-person with the 100-member legislature where he was accused of ignoring rural Colorado. Bentley has strong ties with rural lawmakers and their issues. She had been working as deputy director of the Colorado Energy Office at the time. Her previous jobs included a stint with the Colorado Farm Bureau and former Colorado U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Ignacio.
Bentley succeeded Christine Scanlan, a Dillon Democrat who served in the House before being appointed by Hickenlooper to work in his administration. Scanlan resigned her state job after taking the CEO’s post with the Keystone Center in Keystone.
Hickenlooper was sworn in for a second term on Jan. 13.
