SEATTLE -- Seattle's mayor approved $40,000 in bonus pay for the superintendent of Seattle City Light.

Jorge Carrasco has been at the helm of the power company since 2004. About half the bonus was based on performance measures laid out in Carrasco's contract; the other half for sticking around so long.

On Tuesday, Mayor Greg Nickels' staff defended the decision, while political opponents lined up to call the move 'irresponsible.’

“It's a competitive market to find this kind of talent and to retain this kind of talent. So, that's what the pay is intended to do, make sure we have stable leadership at City Light," said Mayor Nickels spokesperson Alex Fryer.

"Right now it feels like insult to injury when people, who are struggling to make $40,000 in a year, see that amount going to one of the highest paid city employees and the mayor thinks nothing of it," said Seattle mayor candidate James Donaldson.

The superintendent of City Light makes more than $200,000 a year in salary and per contract is eligible for an 8-percent performance bonus again in 2009.