DENVER -- The outgoing chief of staff to Gov. Janet Napolitano, Dennis Burke, elaborated on the roles he will be playing in this year's election when he departs the governor's office Sept. 15, after over a decade of service to Napolitano throughout the stages of her career.

When his departure was announced in early June, it was explained that he was leaving "to work on a variety of political campaigns in Arizona." None of the campaigns were specified, though. 

Thursday, Burke elaborated to PolitickerAZ.com on what his plans entail.

"I'm going to help out the [Sen. Barack] Obama campaign, help out my friend Tim Nelson, [U.S. Rep.] Harry Mitchell," he said.

The presumption in that statement is that Tim Nelson, who is running for Maricopa County attorney, will prevail in his Sept. 2 primary against Richard Nelson, his rival for the Democratic nomination. Burke won't be in a position to help Nelson, who was Gov. Napolitano's general counsel, until two weeks after the primary vote.

Burke will have "no formal role" in the Obama presidential campaign, but will act as a surrogate speaker, work on "special projects" and assist Kelly Paisley, state director for Obama, in various capacities.