Another Good Reporter Goes to the Dark Side

Gov. Bill Richardson was infamous for luring good news hounds to the world of government flackdom. He's not alone. Gov. Susana Martinez has hired The Associated Press' Tim Korte.

Korte is resigning as the AP’s supervisory correspondent in Albuquerque to work for Gov. Martinez’s  administration as a public information officer for the consolidated General Services, Finance and Administration and Regulation and Licensing departments.

(This consolidation hasn't actually happened yet. The Legislature would have to approve this move. I wouldn't bet against it happening though.)

Korte in 1991 began as an editorial assistant in the AP’s Albuquerque office in 1991. He was an AP reporter in this state from 1993 to 1997. He had a stint as a sports writer for the AP in Nebraska and Utah, covering three Olympics before returning to Albuquerque in 2005. He became something called a "supervisory correspondent" last year.

Korte’s last day with the wire service is Feb. 11.