Popular KHON-TV anchor Joe Moore said he plans to stay with the local Fox affiliate despite his disagreements with the station's new owner over its plan to lay off as much as a third of its staff.

In an e-mail to staffers yesterday, Moore said he will remain with the local station until his contract expires in 2009.

"I have decided not to let our owners drive me out of KHON-2," said Moore, who has worked at the station since 1978. "I'm not sure how many good people will remain after the mass firings that are about to occur, but I know this ... KHON-2 will be severely damaged. It has been already."

Moore's remarks come after seven of the station's nine department heads have resigned over Montecito Broadcast Group's decision to lay off about 35 of KHON's 112 employees.

Moore said that an eighth manager, news director Ron Comings, also resigned. Comings said yesterday he had no comment.

Joe McNamara, the station's new general manager, could not be reached for comment.

California-based Montecito, formerly the SJL Broadcast Group, teamed with New York investment banker The Blackstone Group to buy KHON and three Mainland stations from Emmis Communications Corp. last month, a deal valued at $259 million.

Reach Rick Daysog at rdaysog@honoluluadvertiser.com.