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Art Raymond, former spokesman for Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker, was demoted Wednesday in connection with a series of anonymous online comments targeting Becker's electoral opponents.

David Everitt, Becker's chief of staff, said that Raymond will no longer serve as a close adviser to the mayor nor as liaison to the media and the public.

His demotion from assistant communications director to communication and content manager carries with it a $3,000 pay cut in his annual compensation package of $112,381, including retirement and other benefits. The former spokesman also has been put on probation for six months, Everitt said, "or until the end of the mayor's term, whichever comes first."

Becker faces Jackie Biskupski in the Nov. 3 mayoral election in his bid to win a third term.

Raymond, 49, had been on administrative leave since July 30, when The Salt Lake Tribune first reported that he had written anonymous online comments under the pseudonym WhiskeyPete criticizing Becker's primary election rivals, including Biskupski and others — from his city office using the desktop computer assigned to him.

The job sanctions announced Wednesday — one day after the primary election — came after a review of his behavior by city attorneys, human-resource managers and Becker's office, Everitt said.

"His actions reflected very poorly on the mayor and on the city government," he said. "The larger issue is one of maintaining the public's trust in municipal employees and, in particular, those who work closely with an elected official."

The city's review did not find Raymond's actions violated state laws barring use of public resource for political purposes, Everitt said.

When informed of the disciplinary action, Everitt said Raymond "took it as a professional. He understood. And I think he's eager to get back to work."

Reached Wednesday, Raymond declined to comment.

In his new role at City Hall, the former Deseret News reporter will instead focus on developing content, writing talking points and speeches, and researching issues for the mayor's office.

Everitt said the episode had served as a cautionary tale to department heads in the Becker administration and other City Hall employees.

"We do have policies in place that prohibit that kind of activity," he said. "This just reinforced that while sometimes there's may be gray area, we want to avoid even being in the gray area."

tsemerad@sltrib.com Twitter: @TonySemerad