Josh Feit at Publicola has the news about yet another staff change in the mayor's office: Mayor Ed Murray's chief lobbyist, Nick Harper, is out and will be replaced by Murray's former chief of staff Chris Gregorich. Murray has also announced his hire to replace Viet Shelton, the former communications director who helped the mayor stop yelling at reporters and left earlier this year.

Murray has a well-known anger problem and is up for reelection next year. Turnover has been common in his office, though his administration claims it's not a sign of dysfunction

Harper, the lobbyist, is reportedly taking a job at the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, which represents developers.

As Feit points out, turnover often follows a public loss for the mayor and Harper is no exception:

Murray failed to get his top priority in Olympia this year—a tax incentive for landlords to preserve affordable housing.

Staff “changes” typically follow Murray’s defeats. Gregorich himself was moved from his original chief of staff spot to his current special projects role after Murray got cremated in the Seattle Times for initially advocating zoning changes in single family zones. Gregorich will remain on Murray’s eight-member executive team, the inner circle that includes the budget director, the policy director, his legal counsel, his chief of staff, and two deputy mayors. It also includes his communications director.

The new hire for communications director is Benton Strong. Feit reports that "Strong, who is African American, was the spokesperson for the Washington state Democrats coordinated campaign in 2012 during Jay Inslee’s campaign and during the marriage equality campaign." More here.

UPDATE: According to the mayor's office, Gregorich will make $145,000 a year and Strong will make $135,000 a year.

In a statement, Murray called Harper "a dedicated and dynamic leader who leaves a legacy" and said he will "miss having him as part of my administration, but he will remain a close friend and advisor."