Troll spreads rumor of impending Congalton firing

February 29, 2016

By CCN Staff

KVEC radio talk show host Dave Congalton batted down an online story published over the weekend suggesting he was about to be fired by El Dorado Broadcasters.

“Can I go back to sleep now?” Congalton asked, when reached for comment early Monday morning. “I still have a job unless my favorite internet troll knows something I don’t. And that’s never been the case before.”

Blogger Aaron Ochs made the allegations about Congalton’s pending dismissal on a Facebook page where he regularly makes unfounded allegations claiming his information is from friends or affiliates of his targets.

“A source involved with 92.0 (sic) KVEC’s parent company El Dorado Broadcasters, LLC stated that they have concerns about Dave Congalton’s ‘toxic brand,’ ” Ochs wrote. “They’ve reportedly discussed pressuring KVEC to drop the controversial host.”

Congalton laughed off the accusation.

“If Mr. Ochs had taken the time to contact me prior to publishing, a courtesy typically extended by professional journalists, I would have explained that KVEC is part of El Dorado Broadcasters,” Congalton said. “They’re not separate. Same management. If El Dorado wanted me gone, I’d be gone. But my favorite Internet troll delights in stirring up trouble with stories that are patently false. So be it. Welcome to my world.”

The veteran talk show host, who recently celebrated his 24th anniversary on-air, said there seems to be a concerted effort to brand his show as “toxic.” San Luis Obispo mayor Jan Marx used the phrase in a conversation with a KVEC manager last December.

“I’m thinking about my schedule for this week,” said Congalton. “So far, I’ve got a women’s choir, a financial adviser, a filmmaker, Steve Lerian from Cal Poly Arts, and an update on the battle to keep Ontario Ridge open. Oh, and finding a home for a homeless pet. That’s toxic? Now what I don’t have booked this week is Aaron Ochs and I suggest that explains much of his agenda.”

Congalton did confirm a published report that El Dorado Broadcasters recently sold its Santa Maria stations “Sunny County 102.5” and News/Talk 1240 KSMX to rival American General Media for an undisclosed price, but declined specific comment.

However, Congalton did not want KVEC listeners to worry about his upcoming absences from the show. He will be away on vacation during the coming weeks, first as a faculty member at a screenwriting retreat in Spain, and then as a writer-in-residence at a college in the Midwest.