The mayor is back on the airwaves

Hamilton’s radio-savvy Mayor Bob Bratina is about to become a regular TV personality.

On Thursday, Cable 14 launched the first edition of Access to the Mayor, a one-hour call-in talk show featuring the former radio host.

The show, scheduled for 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month, will be hosted by Bay Observer publisher John Best and produced by the mayor’s chief of staff, Peggy Chapman, formerly a senior writer with the Bay Observer.

Bratina and Best will talk city news for 15 minutes, with the remainder of the hour devoted to call-in questions from viewers.

Studio producer Mike Cameron said he was thrilled to have Bratina in a regular slot, noting the community station regularly featured former mayor Fred Eisenberger.

“The most important thing, for us, is facilitating access to the mayor,” said Cameron.

Chapman, Best and the mayor will choose the topics of discussion for the first 15 minutes of the show, with the host playing “a good devil’s advocate,” Cameron said.

The mayor’s chief of staff will screen incoming calls. Cameron said he doesn’t consider that a conflict, adding he will oversee the show as executive producer. He doesn’t expect any complaints about objectivity.

“We’re ultimately responsible for what goes on the air,” he said. “We’re a pretty libertarian control room.”