No Learning Curve Here

Bill Ritter has brought in those people who have been here before. Ari Zavaras and Brian Burnett both know where the copy machine is at DOC headquarters.

In 2001, Gov. Bill Owens appointed Brian Burnett who was born and raised in Colorado Springs, to serve as acting director of the Colorado Department of Corrections replacing John Suthers who was appointed by President Bush to serve as U.S. Attorney for Colorado.

Brian Burnett had been serving as the deputy director of the Department of Corrections in 1999. Prior to 1999, Burnett served as director of finance and general administration for DOC from 1996 to 1999. During much of that same period, Burnett owned and operated his own coffee company, Black Bear Coffee, from 1997 to 1999.

Correct measures

In a first step toward reforming the state's costly, crowded prison system, Gov. Bill Ritter on Monday announced plans to loan a University of Colorado vice chancellor to the Department of Corrections.

Brian Burnett will hold the dual titles of DOC deputy director and vice chancellor for administration and finance at CU-Colorado Springs.

One of Burnett's initial objectives will be to identify funding for anti-recidivism programs. Ritter said reducing the number of repeat offenders and those returning to state prison will save taxpayers money in the long run and is one of his top goals.

"Brian possesses a unique knowledge of both the corrections budget and CU's finances," Ritter said. "By putting him to work in both arenas, we can benefit both agencies and the people of Colorado. This is a perfect example of how we intend to approach state government's diverse needs: through innovation and cooperation."