Newton's Law of Promotion

Operatives who pour over the Daily Herald, like your LakeCountyEye does, no doubt have seen The Soapbox. This Herald end-of-week column is a potpourri of undeveloped story ideas that pass as editorial commentary (and not to be confused with Darts and Laurels, the News-Sun's end-of-week potpourri of undeveloped story ideas).

Buried in this week's Soapbox was this golden nugget of deadpanned humor:

Is it difficult for us to believe that newspaper reporter Jim Newton would end his 27-year career serving the community for a seat on the Lake County Board with an annual salary of $42,480 plus benefits? It's something we don't see in our business much. But difficult to believe? No, no it isn't.
Not in it for the money

Jim Newton is the News-Sun reporter tapped to replace Suzi Schmidt on the Lake County Board. And the Herald, quite plainly in disbelief how anyone could walk away from a high-salary job in the local newspaper business to be a poorly-compensated County Commissioner, was full of admiration.

How substantial a sacrifice is it, to become a public servant? The Barrington Patch (not to be confused with a local-focus Internet blog) has the numbers:

Newton, 48, a resident of Lindenhurst, has worked as a reporter for 26 years. He said he's covered the county board for more than a decade. He plans to leave his newspaper job before being appointed. Newton said the $42,480 county board salary is a lateral move, in financial terms.
Newspaper Reporter Prepares to Serve on Lake County Board

But, ha ha, don't think for a minute it would've been a lateral move had he been working for the Daily Herald (or for that matter, working for the LakeCountyEye).