TDH: 7/13/11

The bat-pack: Nathan and Adam West (Photo courtesy Flickr user AustinTexasGov)

On the heels of the Place 3 defeat of Randi Shade, a dependable ally of Mayor Lee Leffingwell, another departure from the mayor’s circle: Chief of Staff Mark Nathan, who’s leaving Leffingwell’s office to resume outside political consulting.

Leffingwell announces the news in a blog on his personal website:

Mark has been my close friend and confidant since my first City Council campaign in 2005. When I was elected mayor in 2009, I asked Mark to put his political consulting practice on hold and join my office as chief of staff. After I agreed that he wouldn’t have to wear a tie, he said yes.

Since then, Mark has been a driving force behind almost every major initiative we’ve undertaken. He’s been key to our success on economic development and transportation. He’s helped us lay the groundwork for critical public votes in 2012 on urban rail and charter reforms. And he’s done his part to help keep Austin weird, mostly by virtue of his strange and enduring preoccupation with Batman. (Why do all these events with Adam West keep showing up on my calendar?)

The superhero-minded Nathan elaborates in an e-mail, writing “After taking a short break this summer, in the fall I intend to relaunch and expand my consulting practice,” Austin Strategies. Nathan had previously worked on the campaigns of Will Wynn (and for Wynn as a council aide) and Randi Shade, among other endeavors.

“I had worked on all three of Lee's campaigns, knew him very well, and deeply respected his leadership,” Nathan writes. “I wanted to help him succeed as mayor. … Twenty-six months later, I can tell you that the job has indeed been a great fit for me. With only a few exceptions, I've loved every minute. Whether I was a great fit for the job, I'll (unfortunately) have to leave for others to judge."

The Hustle bids Nathan farewell. In salute, here’s the “puppetmaster” the night of Leffingwell’s 2008 City Council election:

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