Five months after being sworn in as Colorado's governor, Democrat Bill Ritter is leaving office.

Republicans, don't rejoice just yet.

Ritter's office, along with all operations in the southwest corner of the Capitol, will be closed from May through December as part of a construction project.

The governor's and other operations in that quadrant will be relocated.

"We are hopeful that we will be able to keep the governor's office in the Capitol," spokesman Evan Dreyer said.

It's the fourth year in a row that a portion of the Capitol has undergone renovation after the legislature adjourns in May. During earlier renovations, the treasurer and lieutenant governor were relocated to a state building across the street.

Safety measures including sprinklers and new stairs are part of the project.

"We want the construction to be done right because we'll be moving into the governor's office in 2011," joked Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma. Ritter is up for re-election in 2010.

Contractors had planned to do the southwest corner, where the governor's office is, this year. But they decided last year to do the southeast corner instead so the new governor wouldn't be disrupted so soon after taking office.

But Ritter told them late last week to stick with the original plan so his office will be open next year when Democrats host the national convention.

Other offices to be relocated this year include those of the House speaker and majority leader and Capitol press offices of the Rocky Mountain News, Colorado Springs Gazette and The Associated Press.