Phil Riesen, November 1999 to February 2000.

Dave Owen, February 2000 to March 2000.

Ted Nguyen, May 2000 to August 2000.

Josh Ewing, December 2000 to February 2004.

David Jones, February 2004 to April 2004.

Deeda Seed, April 2004 to August 2005.

Cliff Lyon, August 2005 to present.

Rocky Anderson's

former communications

directors and their

tenures:

l Phil Riesen, November 1999 to February 2000.

l Dave Owen, February 2000 to March 2000.

l Ted Nguyen, May 2000 to August 2000.

l Josh Ewing, December 2000 to February 2004.

l David Jones, February 2004 to April 2004.

l Deeda Seed April 2004 to August 2005.

l Cliff Lyon, August 2005 to present.

Rocky Anderson is looking for his eighth communications director.

Turns out, Cliff Lyon is just volunteering until Anderson can find a permanent replacement for Deeda Seed, whom the mayor fired last month.

When Lyon was appointed communications director Aug. 28, neither the mayor, the mayor's chief of staff nor Lyon himself mentioned his job was a volunteer post, even when Lyon was asked about his salary.

Lyon even quipped at one point that he couldn't believe he was being paid for what he was doing. He said Tuesday "maybe I meant in a hypothetical sense I can't believe people get paid for this."

Lyon actually isn't getting paid. He said he hasn't received a paycheck, and the city's human resources director, Brenda Hancock, said he's not on the city payroll.

The city is now advertising for a new communications director to deal with the news media, prepare news releases and write speeches and policy reports. The job will pay between $63,000 and $70,000. Applicants must have experience in journalism or media relations, knowledge of urban issues and a commitment to Anderson's agenda.

Lyon said he will remain as volunteer communications director until someone is hired. He said he didn't tell people he was a temporary volunteer from the beginning, believing he wouldn't have been as effective.

"We wanted to get somebody in here really quick," said Sam Guevara, Anderson's chief of staff. "There were three or four projects up in the air. We had talked with Cliff, and he was interested in jumping in and helping us out. The announcement [of Lyon's appointment] did go out too quick. If you want to call it a mistake, I guess it was."

Guevara noted Lyon can apply for the job. Lyon says no thanks.

"I'm overqualified and a little over-opinionated for this job," said Lyon, who noted he eventually wants to run for state Legislature and couldn't do that working for the city. He describes himself as a "Rocky-ite" and said he is trying to help the mayor.

"I took this as a volunteer. I support the hell out of Rocky and what he's trying to do."

hmay@sltrib.com