03/08/2005

Thomas appointed AP's Washington regional reporter for Michigan

DETROIT -- Ken Thomas, a reporter and editor who has been covering politics in Florida for The Associated Press, has been named the AP's Washington regional reporter for Michigan.

The appointment was announced by Charles Hill, chief of bureau for Michigan.

Thomas joined the AP in 1999 in Des Moines, Iowa, where he reported on two Iowa legislative sessions and the Iowa presidential caucuses.

In 2001, he transferred to Miami, where he covered the 2002 gubernatorial campaign and the 2004 Senate and presidential campaigns.

He served as legislative editor in Florida during the 2003 legislative session.

He covered local government for the Charleston (W.Va.) Daily Mail before joining the AP.

Thomas, who grew up in Walden, N.Y., has a bachelor's degree in government from Georgetown University and a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University.

He succeeds Dee-Ann Durbin, who has transferred to the AP's Detroit bureau.

Contact: Ellen Hale, AP Corporate Communications, 212.621.1720