New mouthpiece for Mayor Bloomberg as Loeser leaves and La Vorgna takes over

Stu Loeser, the longest serving chief spokesman for a mayor in NYC history, is leaving his $200,096 a year job to open up "Stu Loeser & Company," a consulting firm to cater to tech and finance clients, in September.

First Deputy Press Secretary Marc La Vorgna, who previously worked in media relations for the Port Authority before joining City Hall, will replace Loeser, who became the Mayor's spokes man in January 2006 after leading his successful campaign.

"I have no doubt Stu Loeser kept me out of more trouble than he got me out of," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement yesterday that was issued jointly by Loeser and La Vorgna. What's more, the Mayor added, Loeser excelled "at the most important task I give any member of my team -- finding someone even better to take his place."