TNT’s Joe Turner retires a month from today

Next session just won’t be the same: After 20 years of covering state government for The News Tribune, Joe Turner is retiring. You can read his farewell here.

“I gave serious thought to taking a buy-out that was offered by McClatchy at the beginning of this year. But some of my colleagues in the Olympia Press Corps prevailed on me to stay for at least one more legislative session. I’m glad I did. It was an interesting and hectic session as the Legislature dealt with a $9 billion budget shortfall.”

I worked with Joe at The News Tribune during the 2008 Legislative session. He patiently taught me a whole lot about state government — and more. He’s known for asking the toughest — some would use another word for it — questions of elected officials. He’ll also be remembered as one of few people to read and understand the state budget every year… something that sounds like it should be relatively straightforward until you actually sit down and try to read and understand a proposed budget.

I will miss him — unless, as I told Joe this morning, he decides to find another job in Olympia. (Come on, Joe!)

Tags: Joe Turner