Robert Mak to leave KING-TV to work for mayor's office

Looking back, a pretty big clue was dropped by Robert Mak during last weekend's broadcast of his long-running public-affairs show "KING 5 News Up Front."

Mak, one of Seattle's best-known political reporters, celebrated his "favorite moments" from 344 segments he'd aired since 2001.

Not exactly a round number, Mak admitted, but added: "It's not as arbitrary as it might seem."

On Tuesday, Mak left KING-TV to become communications director for Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.

Mak said he hadn't been looking for another job when Nickels' office approached him a few weeks ago. But after 21 years as a television-news reporter, the last 16 at Seattle's NBC affiliate, he was tempted by a new challenge.

"It combines my background in communication with my interest in government," Mak said. "It's really about life experience. When you look back at your career, I want to be able to say I tried different things and learned different things."

The money won't be bad, either.

Mak, 41, will be paid $160,000 annually — making him one of the city's highest-paid employees, according to the mayor's office. His pay will be essentially equal to Nickels', which will be $159,439 this year, according to the mayor's office. The city's highest-paid employee remains City Light Superintendent Jorge Carrasco, at $225,057 this year.

Mak said salary was not his main motivator, noting he could probably have made more in the private sector.

Known as one of the few local television reporters to specialize in politics and government instead of the usual murder, disaster and weather stories, Mak tackled complex issues and interrogated politicians and newsmakers on his weekly "Up Front" segments. He won 10 regional Emmy awards for investigative reporting and news programs.

"I think he is the very best at what he does," said Pat Costello, vice president and general manager of KING. "He is unparalleled at taking a really complicated, seemingly boring issue and making it understandable."

Costello said he had no inkling Mak was quitting until Mak told him Tuesday morning. The decision was announced to station employees at an impromptu gathering.

"We're all sitting here in a state of stun," Costello said.

Mak said his decision had nothing to do with any changes at KING.

"KING-TV treated me very well all those years. I have nothing but good memories at KING," Mak said.

Costello said KING remains committed to political reporting and intends to continue "Up Front" with a different host, but said he is still scrambling to figure out who will run the show.

"These are big shoes to fill," he said.

Mak will start his new job June 9. He will also have the title of senior policy adviser to Nickels.

Mak replaces Marianne Bichsel, who left in October to become managing director of communications for Casey Family Programs.

Jim Brunner: 206-515-5628 or jbrunner@seattletimes.com