Sports personality leaves KIRO

By Diane Wright

Herald Writer

Tony Ventrella, known locally for his roles in the Mukilteo Community Center’s summer theater, has left his job as KIRO-TV sports director, where he had worked since 1993.

And now that he won’t have to work nights and weekends — which he’s done for 25 years — he’s looking to move to Snohomish County and possibly get into politics, he said by phone from his Issaquah home Wednesday night.

Two years ago, the 57-year-old Ventrella entertained the idea of running for Congress as a Democrat, and he left the door open to go there again.

He said he left KIRO on amicable terms after a mutual agreement not to extend his contract that "never ran out, but if you didn’t act on it, either side could bail out."

When it came time to renew it in April, he said he told station management "let’s just let this one run out."

"I don’t have any restrictions on me, as when I left KING (TV)," he said. "I probably would not come back as a TV sportscaster, though other opportunities would be considered."

A fixture on area TV since coming to Seattle in 1981, Ventrella often devoted broadcast attention to high school sports before it was the popular thing to do.

He’s known in Mukilteo for his chief avocation: a longtime actor-producer in community theater.

Since 1986, he and former KOMO-TV colleague and friend David Blacker have been producing summer theater at the Mukilteo Community Center as the Rosehill Players. Ventrella is not involved in this year’s production, though some of his family members are in the production.

Ventrella is taking the summer to visit his mother and his son and perform speaking engagements.

"I’ve been privileged to meet some incredibly inspiring people, young and old, and I expect to meet hundreds more. The world is a pretty exciting place when you peel away all the nonsense," he said.

You can call Herald Writer Diane Wright at 425-339-3443

or send e-mail to wright@heraldnet.com.

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