Former News & Observer reporter Leah Friedman is Senate Minority Leader Martin Nesbitt's new communications director.
Friedman, who replaces Jeff Giertz, starts work for the Asheville Democrat on Jan. 3. She'll make $40,000 a year.
"I'm pretty excited," she said.
Friedman worked at the N&O for six years. Her last assignment was as the Triangle Troubleshooter.
Friedman joins a host of former reporters who have jumped to political communications in the last few years.
Working to counter nearly everything Friedman says on Nesbitt's behalf is former N&O writer Ray Martin, Senate leader Phil Berger's press secretary.
Former N&O writer Ben Niolet is working for Gov. Bev Perdue, as is former Charlotte Observer writer Mark Johnson.
