Jim Cauley

Gov. Steve Beshear's office confirmed this morning that his chief of staff, Jim Cauley, has decided to leave his administration to start a political consulting business.

Cauley will be replaced in the position by Adam Edelen, who is presently serving as the executive director of the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security.

"With his political acumen, strategic mind and never-failing good humor, Jimmy has been an integral part of my team and will be sorely missed," Governor Beshear said in a statement released today. "Without him, I would never have been elected. We know this was a tough decision for Jimmy, but we understand that this is the right time in this talented young man's career to move on to other opportunities."

Cauley previously served as campaign manager for Beshear's succesful 2007 governor's run. That position brought him back to Kentucky after he ran Barack Obama's 2004 bid for the open U.S. Senate seat in Illinois.