BREAKFAST radio host cum Wodonga Council election candidate Kevin Poulton will stay on-air at 2AY up to polling day but has been told he cannot promote his campaign for high office.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Station manger Andrew Harrison said there was a ban on referencing Poulton's bid on the airwaves.
"It was a bit of a bombshell (when he announced he was standing) and we made it clear we won't cover it on-air," Mr Harrison said.
"I wouldn't have him advertising on the station and there won't be any mention about it all.
"It's just not something that fits with our DNA, with what we do.
"(Poulton's) job is breakfast announcer and that's our expectation that he will continue to fulfil that role up to the election."
IN OTHER NEWS:
When Wodonga mayor Anna Speedie went on the early morning show on Monday, Poulton did not ask questions; instead co-host Kylie King quizzed her, in line with a station directive.
Poulton said he respected the station's decision and rejected the suggestion he got an unfair advantage over other candidates by virtue of his job allowing him to air opinions.
He said if he was elected he would separate his councillor cap from his 2AY Akubra.
"It's not something that's foreign to me, obviously through organisations I've been involved in the past and present there's been need-to-know information and that's been understood," Poulton said.
"It's changing your hat in walking into a situation, it's playing your role and you've got to balance and juggle everything."
Mr Harrison said "if he was elected we would sit down and talk about any communication about it".
Poulton would not be the first Twin Cities councillor to combine local government duties and broadcasting.
Alderman Cleaver Bunton would read the news on ABC radio while he was a councillor and mayor of Albury.
Poulton lives in Albury but is able to run for Wodonga Council because, through being chairperson, his name appears on rates notices for the Albury Wodonga Community College which is based in the Victorian city.
He did not rule out standing in next year's Albury Council election if he failed to secure a seat in the Wodonga municipal chamber.
"I would have to cross that bridge when it comes, I don't know what the future holds, it's one step at a time," Poulton said.