Friday was the filing deadline to run for most political offices in Sonoma County. And one of the surprise names to appear on the list – 46 in all – was David Glass, former mayor of Petaluma and host of the David Glass Show on KSRO NewsTalk 1350. He is among at least six candidates running for three seats on the City Council. (Because one is an open seat, the deadline for filing has been extended until Wednesday.)

I talked to David this morning, and he said his last day on the air was Thursday. Under federal law, he would have to leave the radio station, or KSRO would have to offer equal air time to all other candidates running for office in Petaluma. So he signed off on Thursday, took out papers on Friday and returned them later that day.

Those who have listened to his show know that Glass has a breathless capacity to talk about politics. But Glass acknowledged, “You can’t just talk about it.”

He said he parted ways with KSRO on good terms. “I never would have quit if the law didn’t demand it,” he said. “It just came down to, what do I want to do?”

Glass was a broadcaster for the San Francisco Giants from 1981-1985 and was mayor of Petaluma for four years before deciding not to seek re-election in 2006. He began at KSRO as a fill-in radio host for Marcy Smothers and Pat Thurston before starting his own show in early 2006. He is also municipal bond broker for Raymond James Financial Services in Petlauma.

Glass is a smart, fiery personality who is certain to elevate the debate in this campaign a notch – and a few degrees.
– Paul Gullixson