When Broadcasters Jump To Politics (And Back) (2024)

After hearing the voice of Jason Farr on Jerry Agar’s show Friday, it suddenly occurred to me how many radio/TV types have left the business to enter politics. But it's especially surprising how many there were in a smaller market like Hamilton. Many here will recall Farr’s long tenure on air at CKOC (his bio says he also worked at CHML, Y108, CHAM and on TV at CHCH.) Now he’s the councillor for Ward 2.

But he’s not the only one. Bob Bratina was a huge star with great ratings on CHML, and parlayed that into becoming a Hamilton councillor (the same riding that Farr now represents) and then the mayor, followed by an MP position in Ottawa.

Then there’s Donna Skelly, who worked at CHCH for years, before entering local and then Ontario politics.

That station’s Dan McLean also flirted with a political career, but decided to abandon his attempts for a federal seat in 2009.

That’s at least four ex-broadcasters who went on to a career in politics. There may be more. But for a market that size, that’s remarkable.

Not that Toronto hasn’t had its own share, but we’re a bigger city. Marcy Ien of CTV’s Canada AM is now a federal cabinet minister. So is that network’s Seamus O’Regan, although he’s from out east.

John Tory went from politics (Ont. P.C. leader) to the radio (on CFRB) and back to politics (Toronto Mayor.)

The recently expelled-from-640 Peter Shurman represented Thornhill as a P.C. MPP for many years, before going back on the air part time.

And then there was Adam Vaughan, who left City TV and the CBC for a career in municipal and then federal politics. His father. Colin, was one of the few who went the other way, leaving City Hall to spend many years as the political specialist for City TV.

Ex-City TV reporter Ben Chin, as noted here earlier, is now the senior advisor to the Prime Minister.

Obviously, those already in the public eye had a huge advantage in running for office, because their names (and often their faces) are so well known.

But sometimes it works the other way. I have a friend who’s originally from Vancouver, who tells me that market is filled with radio talk show hosts who used to be politicians.

It’s a strange thing when you go from reporting on the foibles and fallacies of politicians to becoming one of them.

I’m sure there are others I haven’t thought of – and I’m betting there will be more in the future.

Speaking of politics, in a completely unrelated but weird story, New York City radio legend (and now mayoral candidate) Curtis Sliwa was hit by a cab while on his way to an interview with his former colleagues at WABC Friday. Reports say he flew into the air and came down hard on the pavement.

But as is typical of the creator of the red-bereted Guardian Angels, he went on to do the interview anyway and was then rushed to hospital.

I first met Sliwa in the early 80s when he came into the Toronto radio station I was working at, along with his second wife Lisa, (he's since had several more marriages) for an interview about bringing the Angels to Canada. That plan did not go over well and I'm not even sure if they still exist here.

Sliwa is a very strange character who was once the object of a kidnapping and hit, allegedly by the late mobster John Gotti. He somehow survived a hail of bullets being shot into his taxi. But he'll have to overcome more than violence and accidents if he hopes to become mayor of the Big Apple. Most polls indicate he doesn't have a very good chance of winning.

Will he head back to the airwaves if that happens? Stay tuned.

New York City mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa hospitalized after being hit by cab in Manhattan

Another one associated with Hamilton was Jack Burghardt. He had moved from CHCH to CFPL in London in 1971 but ran for the Liberals in Hamilton in 1972, though he lost and returned to CFPL. He left CFPL again in 1981 to run for the Liberals in London and got elected as MP; he later ran for mayor of London but lost.

London’s mayor from 2001-2010, Anne-Marie DeCicco-Best was previously a newsperson on CJBK. She left broadcasting to run for city council in 1997, winning and then later becoming mayor.

A far more recent example, in London was Kate Young, though she had been out of broadcasting for quite a few years before running for office. She ended up representing the same riding as her CFPL predecessor Jack Burghardt did, for the same party - and also for a Prime Minister Trudeau.

Also a recent example, in Ottawa this time was Carol Ann Meehan, a longtime CJOH anchor alongside Max Keeping who was let go in layoffs and later resurfaced on 1310 News. She is now an Ottawa city councillor.

And now yet another example to add to this long ago thread.

Carol Anne Meehan, former Ottawa councillor, news anchor announces bid for federal candidacy

https://www.legnb.ca/en/members/current/31/steeves-ernie

Ernie was a jock on Cham Hamilton in the 80's.

If Ben Mulroney had a loonie (inflation re: nickel) for every time someone asked him if he'd ever go into politics he could (fill in amusing answer here*)

I'm just glad he's still on the radio.
But what if say in another five years..

*throwback to a great bit Tim and Sid used to do on their Fan 590 afternoon drive show eons ago

And....now, she's out again..

https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/meehan-no-longer-running-for-conservative-candidacy-in-ottawa-west-nepean-1.6994897

And yet another broadcaster throws a hat into the ring. I believe he used to host a show on CFPL-AM and would occasionally show up as a sub on various Corus radio shows.

Radio host, author Andrew Lawton seeks CPC nomination in southern Ontario riding

Ah, but the Internet is forever....
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/london-ontario-andrew-lawton-pc-1.4653131