Revolving Door: Seattle News Anchor Joins Liberal Mayor's Staff

It's sort of like Linda Douglass but on the local level, I guess. I'll have to ask our Seattle-area readers to note in the comments section if KING's Robert Mak repeatedly displayed a penchant for gauzy coverage of liberal Mayor Greg Nickels (D).

The 10-time local Emmy-winning reporter is leaving TV news for a job that pays $10,000 more a year than his new boss.

From the Seattle Times (emphasis mine):

One of Seattle's best-known political reporters - KING 5's Robert Mak - has been hired as Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels' communications director, the mayor's office announced today.

Mak, known to many viewers as host of the public-affairs program "KING 5 News Up Front," said he wasn't looking for another job when Nickels' office approached him a few weeks ago.

But after 21 years as a television news reporter, including 16 at KING, Seattle's NBC affiliate, Mak said he decided to pursue a new challenge.

"It combines my background in communication with my interest in government," Mak said. "It's really about life experience. When you look back at your career, I want to be able to say I tried different things and learned different things."

Mak, 41, will be paid $160,000 and start his new job June 9, according to Nickels' office. He will also have the title of senior policy adviser to Nickels.

Photo of Robert Mak via SeattleTimes.com