Stone to try new stint: talk show host

Stone to try new stint: talk show host
Stone's defeat Tuesday night ousted him from nearly 38 years on City Council. WBEZ/ Kate Dries
Stone to try new stint: talk show host
Stone's defeat Tuesday night ousted him from nearly 38 years on City Council. WBEZ/ Kate Dries

Stone to try new stint: talk show host

WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.

Outgoing Chicago alderman Bernard Stone (50th) will have an audition of sorts for his next job Saturday night … as a radio host. On Tuesday Stone lost his bid for an 11th term to political newcomer Debra Silverstein. The 83-year-old alderman said he may be serving his last term on City Council, but he’s not yet ready to “pack it in.” Shortly before he called Silverstein to concede, he reminded reporters, “You remember when I started this campaign I said I was full of pee and vinegar? I’m still full of pee and vinegar.”

As of Thursday, it seemed Stone already had his next opportunity locked up. On Saturday, he’ll host a call-in show on WLS 890AM, from 7-9 p.m. “I’m  hoping that it will result in a stint that will continue on, but we’ll see,” said Stone. “This is, I guess, a one-time shot to see how well I do.”

What’ll he talk about?

“Politics, what else?,” Stone said wryly.

Stone says lots of people have asked him to share what he has witnessed over his nearly 60 years in politics, and he expects to expound on that during the program. He also professes to enjoy being on TV and radio. If his new gig works out, Stone will have a place to continue a campaign theme: his dislike of mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel.