The West Annex has a new (willing) occupant. Government caucus executive director Steve Vanagas, who has been scurrilously accused of being a "pretty nice guy," has become the premier's deputy chief of staff responsible for (strategic) communications. Mr. Vanagas is best known for previously being a reporter with the now defunct BC Report magazine. But our spies tell us, during his troubled left-leaning youth, he was also the leader of an armed communist cell in Nicaragua (as well as being editor of the Fraser Institute's Canadian Student Review). Shocking! Meanwhile, Public Eye has heard our good friend and biggest fan Tom Syer, the premier's director of issues management, gets a name promotion to deputy chief of staff - putting him on an equal organizational chart footing with Lara Dauphinee and Mr. Vanagas.