Kirby Wilbur is a conservative radio talk show host on KVI 570 in Seattle. He had frequently called in to radio shows, and a producer who liked the sound of his voice asked him to come in for an interview. He had no formal training in broadcasting, and was working as a real estate appraiser. He was first employed by the station as a substitute host, then began weekday evening broadcasts in 1993. Since January 1995, Wilbur has held the 5 AM to 9 AM weekday slot. Wilbur is known for his civil tone, top national and local guests, and his interest in community and political activism. Among the major Seattle-area events that Wilbur has organized are a 1994 protest against universal health care when Hillary Clinton visited Seattle, an October 2001 rally for America in Seattle's Westlake Square following September 11, and a June 2004 memorial on the passing of President Ronald Reagan. Wilbur met his wife, Trina, while working on the 1980 Reagan campaign. Wilbur has long championed conservative causes on his radio show, including an initiative that would repeal a new tax on gasoline. However, some claimed that this advocacy on the air has caused him to run afoul of the law in Washington state, saying that his discussion of the topic was tantamount to a political campaign contribution to the opponents of the gasoline tax. Since he advocated that his listeners donate to the anti-tax campaign and urged them to sign a petition, he has been accused of having "a level of control and involvement that would make them officers and/or agents of the campaign."[1]. At first, his station had to report the "value" of the airtime devoted to the anti-tax campaign, but after this estimated "value" exceeded the limit of campaign finance law, the duo was forced to abandon advocating the issue, although they can still mention it on the airwaves. The Washington State Supreme Court found 9-0 in favor of Wilbur, and Supreme Court Justice Jim Johnson said that the lawsuit "was actually for the purpose of restricting or silencing political opponents." Wilbur sits on the board of directors of Young America's Foundation, a non-profit conservative campus activist organization, and he frequently speaks at YAF conferences.Wilbur has also served as a substitute host for The Sean Hannity Show when Sean Hannity is on vacation. He is a member of the board of the American Conservative Union.
