Willamette Week managing news editor Hank Stern is leaving the paper to take a communications job with Multnomah County.

Stern, who joined Willamette Week in 2005, will leave the paper on April 19. He tells the Portland Business Journal the pay increase he’ll receive “made a hard decision a little bit easier” — the new position comes with a salary of $80,000.

“It’s better pay, benefits and I respect what the county’s doing,” he says.

Photo of Stern via Twitter