Staffers at Fleishman-Hillard offices around California were told this afternoon that Doug Dowie, who had been on paid leave, is "no longer with the firm." If you've been paying attention to L.A. politics for the past year, you know that Dowie is the ex-managing editor of the Daily News who had headed Fleishman's Los Angeles office. Today's house-cleaning also swept up John Stodder and Steve Getzug, former Fleishman vice presidents who worked closely on the agency's controversial contract with the Department of Water and Power. Stodder reportedly was escorted from Fleishman's high-rise suite downtown (* actually he apparently left unescorted except for ex-colleagues sending him off with good wishes).

** Terms not disclosed: Thursday stories in the Times and Daily News are short on details.

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