Dave Ross signs off the air for campaign

By Warren Cornwall
Seattle Times Eastside bureau

JOHN LOK / THE SEATTLE TIMES Producer Tina Nole wipes away a tear as radio talk-show host Dave Ross embraces her yesterday after finishing his final broadcast at KIRO in Seattle. Ross, who has been with KIRO for 26 years, now will focus his efforts on his candidacy for the 8th Congressional District.

E-mail this article Print this article Search archive Most read articles Most e-mailed articles

Related stories Archive: 8th-District hopeful chided for loan to self

After spending roughly 20,000 hours on the talk-radio airwaves of Puget Sound, Dave Ross and his distinctive bass voice left the microphone yesterday and hit the congressional campaign trail full time.

A fixture of Seattle talk radio for nearly 17 years, with his trademark declaration as a leader of the common-sense crusaders, signed off less than two months before his name will appear on the ballot for the Sept. 14 primary in the 8th Congressional District.

"Don't marry just for love, marry for trust," he said as the final seconds of his 9 a.m.-to-noon show ticked down. "Learn to sing. And if you avoid the temptation to seek only happiness, my friend, you will find it."

His departure ends the controversial final weeks for a current-events show that consistently ranked as one of the most popular in the region.

Ross' decision to stay on the air after he entered the congressional race in late May triggered objections from both Republicans and Democrats, who said the show gave him free airtime and an unfair advantage. Democratic opponent Alex Alben warned that the show amounted to an illegal campaign contribution, a charge the radio station, KIRO-AM (710), rejected.

"All candidates need to play on a level playing field," Alben reiterated yesterday. "Now that he's going to be campaigning full time, I expect to have a spirited, intelligent race."

Ross, however, said he doesn't regret the decision because he had little choice in the matter. He has said he was bound by a contract and promised to remain until they found a replacement. Federal broadcasting laws also would have forced Ross to leave, or give equal airtime to opponents, starting by the end of next week, when he must register to get on the ballot.

Ross faces two opponents in the primary, Alben and Heidi Behrens-Benedict, in a suburban district that includes much of East and South King County and East Pierce County.

Radio station manager Ken Berry has said that if Ross isn't elected, he's welcome to return to his show.

Ross, apparently referring to the possibility he would return to the air as either a congressman or a talk-show host, took a page another celebrity-turned-politician, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
 
"I leave you with one final warning," Ross said as he signed off. "One way or another I will be back."

Warren Cornwall: 206-464-2311 or wcornwall@seattletimes.com