Mayor Katie Wilson’s press secretary leaving after less than 7 months

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s press secretary, Sage Wilson, is leaving after less than seven months on the job, PubliCola reported Wednesday.

Sage Wilson decided he would rather work as an advocate for progressive causes outside of the mayor’s office, but doesn’t have a position lined up, according to the media outlet.

He previously worked for advocacy group Working Washington and policy group Civic Ventures.

Sage Wilson’s last day will be early next month, according to PubliCola.

In June, PubliCola reported that Katie Wilson asked her communications director, Seferiana Hasegawa, who was Sage Wilson’s boss, to step down after months of negative coverage for the mayor.

The mayor then hired political consultant Crystal Fincher to help reshape the office’s communications strategy and Seattle Department of Transportation spokesperson Dawn Schellenberg as a temporary media relations staffer.

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s office goes through internal shakeup

The mayor’s office went through a significant internal shakeup in May, when Katie Wilson’s chief of staff was reassigned to take on new “special projects.”

Meanwhile, Esther Handy is serving as interim chief of staff.

Additionally, Deputy Mayor Brian Surratt was shifted to focus more on city council relations.

Council members voiced frustration with communications from the mayor’s office, especially as Wilson introduced and then amended bills to roll out new shelter beds across the city.

Wilson dodges questions at news conference

Earlier this month, Wilson declined to discuss her recent endorsements in two Washington legislative races, saying she made the endorsements “in my personal capacity” rather than as mayor.

Later during the news conference, Wilson explained that the city moved the event from the FIFA World Cup media center to the Seattle waterfront because of a hotel workers strike, saying the change was made so attendees would not have to cross a picket line.

Wilson was asked whether that decision reflected her official role as mayor while the endorsements were considered personal actions. She declined to elaborate on the endorsements and referred reporters to her previously posted statement.

Contributing: Luke Duecy and Jon Repp, KIRO Newsradio; Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest

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