Longtime Sacramento journalist and City Hall newcomer R.E. Graswich has harshly criticized Mayor Kevin Johnson, going so far as to describe Johnson as a “power-hungry pol” in a Jan. 28 column published by The Sacramento Press. Now that Graswich is working for the mayor’s office, how does he explain his move from Johnson critic to Johnson advocate? Graswich made the “power-hungry” remark in the context of the debate over whether Johnson should take more power as a “strong mayor.” But Graswich told The Sacramento Press in an interview Wednesday that he also questioned Johnson’s ability to lead the city. “I wasn’t also sure, frankly, in January, that Mayor Johnson could be mayor,” he said.

Sacramento journalist R.E. Graswich is not sad to leave his 37-year journalism career for a new job as special assistant to Mayor Kevin Johnson. “I figure I got one last shot in life here to do something worthwhile as opposed to what you guys do,” he joked while addressing reporters Tuesday. Graswich, 54, left a 35-year career at The Sacramento Bee in 2007. In the two years following his departure from the Bee, he took up “wonderful chances” to work as a co-anchor at KFBK and commentator at KOVR CBS 13, he said. Now, though, he wants to work in the political arena. This is his first week working as a staffer at City Hall in the special assistant position with a salary of $80,000. At Joh