Nutter's communications director returning from stint on Obama campaign

Mayor Nutter today announced that Desiree Peterkin-Bell will be returning to his administration as director of communications, after a stint with President Obama's re-election campaign.

Peterkin-Bell joined the administration in September 2010. Her job had not been filled since June when she left to do communications work for the Obama campaign in Pennsylvania.

Mayoral spokesman Mark McDonald said other staffers had taken over the workload, but said the job had not been held open for Peterkin-Bell. With the campaign over, McDonald said Nutter saw that "she's available and he's asked her to come back."

Bell will be returning at her $150,000 salary, McDonald said. She'll start again on Nov. 19.