Newsom's Mouthpiece Resigns

Nathan Ballard says he will stay on with the mayor until February

The man behind the illusive Gavin Newsom's statements and his public appearances has resigned.

The chief spokesman for the San Francisco mayor announced  his resignation Monday afternoon.

In a statement released by the mayor's office, Newsom  communications director Nathan Ballard said he will leave the post in  February.

Newsom broke his two week media silence in a statement where he called Ballard an "unflappable, smart and a fierce advocate."

"He is a talented communicator and a consummate professional, and  we will miss him," Newsom said.

The comments were the mayor's first to the media since he ended his run for California governor on Oct. 30.

Newsom's silence and whereabouts following the ending of his campaign was a point of frustration even for Ballard, who served the mayor for almost two years.

A few days after he ended his campaign with a statement, Ballard was caught off guard when word broke of Newsom traveling to Hawaii on a family vacation.

Ballard had previously served as a spokesman for U.S. Sen. John  Kerry, General Wesley Clark, the Democratic National Committee, the  California Democratic Party and the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO.
     
The mayor's spokesman said he plans to spend more time with his family and  to re-launch a media relations company he founded in 2004.

In the statement, Ballard praised Newsom's work on health care,  environmental issues, education and equal rights.

"It has been a privilege to serve this administration," Ballard  said.

Surprisingly there was no immediate word from the mayor's office on his replacement.

Bay City News contributed to this report.

Contact Us