This time it’s press secretary Lars Erickson, who has accepted an offer

Published 8:00 am Friday, November 16, 2007

This time it’s press secretary Lars Erickson, who has accepted an offer to become Pierce Transit’s public relations officer. He’s the fourth high-level staffer to leave in almost as many months. In an email sent out this morning, Erickson says his last day in the governor’s office will be Dec. 4. He has, of course, glowing words for his soon-to-be former boss: I’ve spent a lot time traveling around the state with Governor Gregoire, and I remain amazed by her devotion and drive to serve the people of Washington. She challenges me and those around her to be and give our best, and is, quite simply, the most remarkable public official I have ever known.Communications director Holly Armstrong and Gregoire’s chief of staff Tom Fitzsimmons both left earlier this fall, and speechwriter Adam Vogt left his post in July after just eight months on the job. Who’s next?Update: Caught up with Erickson. He says he’s leaving now (after two years on the job) because the timing is right. “More than anything I saw that my window for leaving in an appropriate manner, not during a legislative session or on the eve of a campaign, was rapidly closing,” he says. “I decided to take advantage of that.” He says the governor was supportive. Asked about what appears to be a mass exodus of staffers lately, Erickson says: “I can only speak for myself. It was really a timing issue more than anything else.”