Former city spokesman is voice of 'AM Tri-Cities'

Show airs live from the second floor of the new Food City grocery store on Eastman Road, Monday through Friday from 10 to 11 a.m.

By MATTHEW LANE  mlane@timesnews.net

    KINGSPORT - For years Dave Light served as the spokesman for the city of Kingsport. Now, instead of being asked questions about the city, Light is posing them to his guests five days a week.

    Light retired from the city of Kingsport last November after 25 years of service, during which time he wore many hats - fleet manager, interim water and wastewater system manager, community relations director, and for the last year of his career as the assistant to the city manage r.

    Many people knew Light as the voice of Kingsport and the one person the public routinely went to for answers, concerns or problems. Media outlets regularly went to Light for information about the city, and rarely a week went by without Light being on television, quoted in the newspaper or interviewed on the radio.

    So it seems only fitting that Light is again on the radio, just in a different capacity.

    On March 3, Light began his new job as the host of "AM Tri-Cities" on the WKPT Radio Network and heard on AM 1400. The program has existed in one form or another for more than 50 years, and Light replaces longtime host Janet Johnson, who retired Feb. 29 after more than 20 years behind the microphone."    The show airs live from the second floor of the new Food City grocery store on Eastman Road, Monday through Friday from 10 to 11 a.m.

    "It's geared at regional information that you need to make your life more enjoyable," Light said.

    When Johnson announced her retirement, Light said he received a phone call from Charlie Askew at WKPT asking him if he would consider taking the job. The two met, talked over the proposal, did some test runs, and decided to go with Light.

    "It was a humbling experience. They seemed to like the tone in my voice, and I've got the face for radio," Light said. "I had been on the show previously with Janet, so I was familiar with the format."

    A couple of men who frequent the deli at Food City have joked with Light about him not being able to stay out of the public arena.

    "I was humbled to even be thought of in that fashion," Light said. "And it kind of fits with what I want to do. It's part time, I won't get rich at it, and it's a heck of a lot of fun. I like people and talking to people."

    "AM Tri-Cities" focuses on local issues and not just in Kingsport. Light said the show covers everywhere from Greeneville to North Carolina to Southwest Virginia. Guests on the show recently have included a tiger trainer with Ringling Bros. Circus, a representative from Contact Concern and the local Red Cross.

    "We've talked about everything from the new Watauga roundabout to blood donations to concerts. You name it, we've pretty much talked about it," Light said, noting he would love to interview the mayors of the area cities and counties. "I would hope they would view a visit with me on the air as a positive opportunity for them. I'm not going to whitewash anything. That's never been my style, and it won't be now. If I can snag some government leaders for an appearance I would do it."

    When Light retired last year, he said he planned to do some traveling with his wife, spend more time with his two grandchildren - Charlie Grace and Finley Brianna - and do some volunteer work. Light's not ruling out a future run for public office and is not setting a time frame on his new gig with WKPT.

    "What's long term? Is it six months, a year or five years? I don't know. I'm optimistic it will be a good run. I'm going to do everything I can to make it a good run," Light said, adding he should have retired 25 years ago. "It took some getting used to, the first week or two. I would wake up and almost go in a panic mode. You get up every morning for so many years, take a shower, put on a necktie and drive to work, go full steam for sometimes 16 hours. ... It gets in your blood, and it's a hard habit to break."

copyright 1997-2008 - Kingsport Publishing Corporation