Mark Matassa (back when he was one of us. He's sure cleaned up since then.)


Mark Matassa, communications director for Mayor Mike McGinn, former editor at the Seattle Times and Seattle P-I, and a onetime member of PubliCola's advisory board, told the press—specifically: "My friends in the press corps (also Erica)"—in an email today that he's going on leave for the summer for medical reasons.

We like to harass Mark when he's giving us nonanswers to our nosy questions (e.g., "We'll announce something when we have something to announce"), but honestly, we love the guy. He's thoughtful, honest, and much as we hate to admit it, sometimes he's right. He also adds a touch of smart humor to an administration that believes its own press releases a bit too much.

We wish him all the best, and look forward to working with him when he returns in the fall.