Dave Ross
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- For other people sometimes known as Dave Ross, see David Ross.
Dave Ross (born April 5, 1952 in Yorktown, New York) is a popular liberal talk show host on Seattle's KIRO-AM 710 radio station, with whom he had been a news anchor since 1978, his show starting nine years later in 1987. He has sometimes broadcast his show while on assignment in other locations, including overseas, such as Baghdad in April 2004.
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[edit] Broadcast career
Ross started his broadcast career at the age of 15 at WVIP in Mt. Kisco, New York. After graduating from Cornell University, from 1974 to 1978, Ross worked as a reporter at WSB in Atlanta, Georgia.
Ross also broadcasts a national daily commentary on the CBS Radio Network and a syndicated daily radio report on computers for the Associated Press called Chip Talk. He was also part of the 1995 Launch Team for C-NET. Ross also fills in for CBS Radio colleague Charles Osgood on his "Osgood File" commentaries. Ross is known for his "flitch" songs (songs using existing melodies, but with new lyrics, usually based on current events). He often sings one as part of his radio show and CBS segments.
Ross received the 2001 and and 2005 Edward R. Murrow Award for Commentary. He was unable to accept the 2001 award personally, however, because the ceremony was scheduled for September 12, 2001. He was booked on a flight to Nashville on September 11, 2001 but instead ended up on assignment in New York City covering the terrorist attacks. Ross has also received a Marconi award nomination and Clarion and Gabriel awards.
[edit] Other personal details
He has served as a member of the St. Monica’s school commission, a member of the Eastside Board of Catholic Community Services, and was on the steering committee of the Campaign 5000 African-American community development bank. He is head of the Eastlake Avenue Crusaders for Common Sense, a moderate political group.
He and his wife Patti have two daughters.
[edit] 2004 US House election
In May of 2004, Ross announced that he intended to run for the United States House of Representatives for Washington State's 8th Congressional District as a Democrat. He began a leave of absence from KIRO at noon on July 23, 2004, to coincide with the beginning of his active candidacy. The seat was held by Republican Jennifer Dunn, who retired in 2004.
In the primary election held on September 14, 2004, Ross decisively defeated fellow Democrats Alex Alben and Heidi Behrens-Benedict. In the general election against King County Sheriff Dave Reichert in the general election on November 2, 2004, anti-Ross advertisements paid for by the National Republican Congressional Committee said that Ross "empowered terrorists" and that he would "wave a white flag" against them. The commercials said that Ross supported cut to defense spending by $100 billion, but in fact Ross' statement was merely that he opposed the $100 billion missile-defense system sought by the Bush administration. [1]
CQPolitics described the race this way:
Reichert's record as sheriff -- which included capture of the notorious "Green River" serial killer -- enabled him to defeat Democrat Dave Ross, a well-known Seattle-based radio talk show host, in 2004 with 51.5 percent and a 5 percentage-point margin.
Ross returned to his talk show the following day.
[edit] Seattle Gilbert and Sullivan Society Performances
Ross is a member of the Seattle Gilbert and Sullivan Society, and has regularly appeared in their performances at Seattle Center, playing over 25 roles with the company. He is known among G&S fans as an excellent character actor, usually portraying the famous Gilbert & Sullivan "patter" roles. At the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival, he played the role of Rudolph in the company's The Grand Duke.
