Former Scribe, Revolving Flack

Former Stranger reporter Sandeep Kaushik (pictured), who last year became King County Executive Ron Sims' spokesperson—one of Sims' smartest personnel moves ever—is leaving Columbia Tower to take a temporary post as communications director for the No on I-920 campaign. The initiative seeks to overturn the state's estate tax, which hits rich folks with estates valued at more than $2 million (excluding farm, orchard, and timber lands). The proceeds help fund education in the state.

Among the proponents of the initiative is Columbia Tower developer Martin Selig, who is bankrolling the campaign. Inevitably, the Seattle Times editorial board will soon start weighing in on the initiative as well, since the federal estate tax is a personal obsession of the paper's publisher, Frank Blethen. I cannot wait to see how Blethen's son, Ryan, writes about the initiative, and who would dare edit the lapidary twentysomething editorial board member.

The No campaign is currently funded by Bill Gates, Bill Gates Sr., and the Washington Education Association.

Kaushik demurred when asked if the temp job would be the first in a series of political campaign jobs. He says he'll take a pay cut for three months, however. Back to reporter pay for you, Sandeep.