Gov. Jay Inslee received some positive reaction from mass-transit advocates for appointing a new secretary of transportation with experience in that world. Now Lynn Peterson, who starts next week as secretary, will have a top spokesman who also has transit experience.

Pierce Transit spokesman Lars Erickson starts March 18 as the Washington State Department of Transportation communications director. He replaces the retired Steve Pierce. 

Erickson interviewed for the job with Peterson. Currently a Seattle resident, he worked on the Democratic presidential campaigns of Al Gore and John Kerry and then as a press secretary for then-Gov. Chris Gregoire in her first term. Since leaving the Capitol, he has worked at Pierce Transit during a time of dwindling revenue, slashed service and unsuccessful efforts to raise taxes.