Paul Demko, City Pages' last remaining news reporter from the Steve Perry era, resigned today. He will join Perry's new title, Minnesota Monitor, as a full-time political reporter, say sources who have spoken to Demko.

Under new editor Kevin Hoffman, City Pages has not covered politics on a sustained, beat basis; Demko has experience prowling Minneapolis and St. Paul city halls as well as the legislature. While at CP, he won the coveted Premack statewide public-affairs award for "The Hit Parade Revisited," his look at Minneapolis police-brutality settlements. He won the award with G.R. Anderson Jr., now of MinnPost.

Just weeks after assuming the MinMon job, Perry has reassembled quite a few of his old CP crew. Britt Robson joined the team last month, and Molly Priesmeyer covers housing and other issues. Both are part-timers. Perry has at least one open full-time slot in his budget, which Demko will fill.

UPDATE: Steve Perry confirms it in this post. Demko's coming on board April 28 - two weeks from today. No rest for the wicked, I guess.

UPDATE II: Demko is taking the high road on the way out. Here's his e-mail: "It's simply time for a change. I've been here eight years. It's been a blast. But I'm looking for a new challenge. Hopefully, Minnesota Monitor will be the right fit. I look forward to what should be an intriguing political season."