Hacks and Flacks

Longtime AP writer Dave Ammons is swtching sides, taking his thorough understanding of all things Olympia across the street into Secretary of State Sam Reed's office. It's a bit of an adjustment when hacks and flacks switch sides, but Reed is lucky to have him and we wish Ammons all the best.

On the camapign trail, we received an announcement that Aaron Toso, the governor's press secretary, was moving from the office to the camapaign. With Toso's campaign experience, no one was surprised. We could find no announcement or information, however, about a woman named Debra Carnes who recently started as the camapign's communications director, and who has no evident campaign experience and no established relationships with journalists or with politickers.

On the other side, Dino Rossi recruited veteran communications expert Mary Lane Strow last year.