For the last 7.5 years, Andy Hobbs has anchored the editor’s desk at the Mirror. Earlier this month he moved on to Olympia to take a new position at their daily paper.

As his employer, and friend, I wish him well. It was the correct decision for him to make and that newspaper is getting a great employee with a tremendous writing prose.

As with any position, at any company, the show must go on. Federal Way is a vibrant and an active city. It has its trials and tribulations and has always required an editor with a keen understanding of the city, its people and perspective as a regional hub between two metro areas. Understanding these basic principles requires a great editor.

One that is passionate, caring, able to see through the rhetoric and ingrain themselves into the fabric that is Federal Way. Your next editor of the Mirror is already established at this. Carrie Rodriguez will be a great addition to this team when she joins us on December 4, 2013.

She looks forward to carrying on the rich tradition of providing Federal Wayans with the same local coverage that you have long expected of this newspaper. Carrie comes to the Mirror having served recently as a regional editor for Sound Publishing’s Kirkland and Bothell/Kenmore Reporter newspapers.

She graduated from the University of Washington with degrees in journalism and English. Carrie lives in Des Moines with her husband Miguel and four kids. She calls Federal Way home for almost everything she does, including shopping and entertainment.

On any given Saturday night, you may find her with other parents parked outside of Pattison’s West waiting for her teenagers to finish skating. Please stop in and welcome Carrie to the team. Her door will always be open and ready to serve the community of Federal Way.