SEATTLE — Jim Brunner, a veteran political reporter who has covered Washington state government and politics for more than 28 years at The Seattle Times, is leaving the paper to become senior political reporter at The Washington Observer, a subscriber-supported digital publication focused on state politics, government and influence. Brunner will start Dec. 1.
“Folks: some professional news. I’m joining the Washington Observer in December as senior political reporter,” Brunner wrote to X. “Very stoked to dig around in state politics, government & power with a renewed zeal and voice. I’ll have more to say later, but I’m thankful for my 28 years at The Seattle Times, and psyched to join Paul Queary & the Observer to try something new!”
A native of Wenatchee, Brunner worked at The Spokesman-Review and The Associated Press and freelanced for The Stranger before joining the Times in its Snohomish County bureau in 1998. He began with stories ranging from refinery explosions to quirky suburban government issues, then moved to the paper’s main newsroom. Over the decades he covered Seattle City Hall, multiple sessions of the Legislature, national party conventions and profiles of politicians and candidates across the state.
Among his most notable stories were revelations about alleged sexual abuse by Seattle Mayor Ed Murray that contributed to the mayor’s resignation; the first public disclosure of emails from the Oklahoma City-based owners of the Seattle SuperSonics showing they had discussed relocating the team shortly after purchasing it; and an investigation into a Republican state legislator’s inflated military service claims that prompted a swift resignation. Brunner and colleague Lewis Kamb later received the Ancil Payne Award for Ethics in Journalism from the University of Oregon for their handling of the Murray reporting.
Brunner has said he is ambivalent about the awards culture in journalism, but his work has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Headliner Awards and Investigative Reporters and Editors. He was part of the Seattle Times team that won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the slaying of four Lakewood police officers. The paper has also noted his 2018 National Headliner Award and other honors for investigative and explanatory work.
The Washington Observer, launched by Paul Queary around 2020, tracks how money and power shape politicians, public officials and policy in Washington. Queary, a longtime journalist and former communications professional, has described his venture as an experiment in “new-school journalism” that delivers smart, sometimes funny and often detailed reporting on politics, government and influence for readers willing to pay for independent coverage.
The publication operates as a newsletter and website under The Washington Observer LLC and relies on paid subscribers; tips can be sent to Queary by email or text.
Queary wrote that he and Brunner have been “friendly rivals” since the Observer began competing with the Times in 2020. He said Brunner had been intrigued by, and occasionally envious of, the Observer’s more direct style, while Queary had wondered what Brunner’s reporting would look like outside the conventions of a traditional newspaper.
The onboarding of Brunner is part of a broader expansion of the Observer into a wider range of topics and places. Queary said the plan is to “unleash” Brunner on the politics beat so he can focus on growing the publication.
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
