Tuesday,  February 11 , 2025

Linkedin Pinterest
News / Northwest

Gov. Ferguson appoints ex-KIRO reporter Jesse Jones to lead WA agency

By Jessica Fu, The Seattle Times
Published: January 24, 2025, 10:54am

Gov. Bob Ferguson announced Wednesday the appointment of former KIRO-TV investigative reporter Jesse Jones as director of Results Washington, an agency responsible for making state agencies more efficient and transparent.

Jones made his name in television, where he reported on consumer issues for decades and was known for his “Get Jesse” segment.

Results Washington is an initiative created by then-Gov. Jay Inslee through an executive order in 2013 to track the performance of state agencies. The initiative measures progress toward goals in policy areas including education, environment and the economy.

According to the announcement from Ferguson’s office, improving agencies’ customer service will be a priority for Results Washington under Jones’ lead.

“Few things frustrate me more than bureaucracy that creates delays, confusion, or extra hurdles when people and businesses need questions answered and results delivered,” Ferguson said in the announcement. “Our mission must be to speed up government, improve customer service and center the people in every decision we make.”

Ferguson has indicated efficiency will be a key focus of his administration, especially as the state faces a $10 billion budget shortfall. In an interview with The Seattle Times, Ferguson said he is scrutinizing state agencies and is open to streamlining them, though he declined to name specific offices.

Raised in Tacoma, Jones got his start at KSTW, worked as an investigative reporter at TV stations in Baltimore and Cincinnati, and returned to the Pacific Northwest in 2005 as a consumer reporter for KING-TV. He worked at KIRO on consumer-focused investigations for a decade before being let go in October, Jones shared on LinkedIn at the time.

He wasn’t quite sure what his next move would be. He considered continuing in TV, exploring press relations and starting his own business. On Dec. 24, Jones got a call from Ferguson offering him the director role.

“When the governor-elect calls you, it’s hard to say no,” Jones said in a phone interview.

Jones sees the role as a new challenge — and an opportunity to make change from within the government. His past work in journalism will continue to inform his work as a public servant, particularly “being able to understand the frustration of the people, when they ask the government for something or get tossed into the system.”

“They expect accountability, they deserve answers,” he said. “If Domino’s can follow a pizza, we should be able to follow an application.”

Jones’ investigative work had previously drawn the attention of Ferguson’s Attorney General’s Office. In 2023, Jones reported that Climate Pledge Arena concession vendors were charging an undisclosed 3 percent fee to consumers, which he verified by making transactions at a Seattle Storm game and Duran Duran concert.

Then-Attorney General Ferguson opened an investigation into the practice, resulting in an order that the arena pay $477,000 in refunds and penalties.

Last year, Jones was part of the reporting team recognized as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for a series of stories on Social Security payment clawbacks.

Loading...
Tags