First lady Locke lands job at KIRO

Mona Lee Locke, Washington state's outgoing first lady, will return to her television-news roots when she joins KIRO-TV in April, the station announced yesterday.

Locke's service to the state alongside outgoing Gov. Gary Locke ends at noon today, with the inauguration of Christine Gregoire as governor. Locke, a former reporter for KING, will join KIRO part time as an anchor and reporter in April.

"I was approached by a couple of stations. KIRO just seemed like a great fit for me," Locke said yesterday. "Their philosophy is much like mine, and the position they offered was the perfect fit for what I was looking for."

Locke's duties at KIRO will include reporting on various issues for special assignments and working on documentaries, she said. Among topics she's interested in are education and politics.

"I look forward to doing more in-depth research and writing," she said. "You'll probably see me on air first during sweeps in May."

In the meantime, Locke will spend the next few months "working on being a mom" to her three children and helping them adjust to their new home in Seattle.

Her husband, she said, is "fully supportive that I'm going back to my passion."

The outgoing governor said last week that he has not made a decision about what he will do next but said he hopes to be back to work within a month.

At his farewell address before the Legislature yesterday, the Lockes delighted the audience of legislators, relatives and dignitaries by bringing their youngsters onto the House rostrum. All three were born while Locke was in office: Emily, 7; Dylan, 5; and Madeline, 2 months.

Locke's final State of the State address was mostly a modest recitation of his administration's accomplishments over the past eight years.

But he dropped his usual reserve at the end when he brought his young family on stage, his voice cracking when he bade his final farewells after 22 years of public service.

It was a vintage Locke speech, full of talk about family and public service, praise for public employees and his administration, and exhortation for the Legislature to keep working on education and other trademark Locke issues.

KIRO's announcement comes on the heels of anchor Kristy Lee's notice of departure. Lee, who has co-anchored KIRO's evening newscasts with Steve Raible since January 2002, will leave KIRO Jan. 21.

Lee and her family are relocating to Boston at the end of the month, according to KIRO general manager John Woodin.

Given Locke's part-time status, it's "unlikely" she would become a full-time anchor, Woodin said.

"We are excited for someone of Mona's broad background and history to join the KIRO 7 team," he said. "She has been an unbelievable asset to the state in her role as first lady and was a terrific journalist prior to that."

Weekend anchor Amy Clancy will fill in temporarily for Lee on the anchor desk.

Material from The Associated Press is included in this report. Pamela Sitt: 206-464-2376 or psitt@seattletimes.com