Oops! Mayor mourns 'death' of former city official ... but there's one problem

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray giving his first State of the City Address on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014. (Photo: KCPQ-TV/Seattle)



SEATTLE -- Mayor Ed Murray's office put out a news release Thursday to say he was mourning the death of former Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Director Jim Diers.

But Diers is not dead -- or even sick.

In the first news release sent out Thursday afternoon, Murray said he was "very saddened by the death of Jim Diers. ... His service to this city was unmeasurable. My thoughts go out to the Diers family. He will be missed.”

About 35 minutes later, the mayor's office sent out a "CORRECTION!" to the news release.

"The Mayor's office was mistakenly informed of the death of Jim Diers. He is alive and well."

Diers must have been relieved to hear that.