One of Hamilton’s most recognizable personalities is entering political life.

Dan McLean confirmed last night that he will be filing his nomination papers and sending them off to Ottawa to compete to be the candidate for the Liberals in the Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale riding.

“I’m a candidate. I still want to contribute to the community,” said Mr. McLean from his home in Lynden. “I couldn’t be involved (in politics) before, now I have the opportunity to help this community.”

Mr. McLean points out he has yet to be selected as the riding’s candidate. The riding’s nominating process is still continuing, he said.

“It is up to the party to make the decision (about his candidacy),” he said.

There was also some indication that former Hamilton West Liberal MP Stan Keyes was also interested in returning to politics. Mr. Keyes, a member from 1988 to 2004, but now president of the Canadian payday Loan Association, was courting the Liberal nomination for the riding.

Since the Liberals’ loss in 2008, the Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale Liberal riding association has undergone a shakeup within its organization over conflicting issues. It was only recently that the association created its nominating committee to seek a potential candidate to defeat Mr. Sweet.

For 28 years Mr. McLean had been the well-respected anchor for CHCH television’s six and 11 o’clock news shows, until his contract was terminated last fall by CanWest.

Mr. McLean has become one of the city’s most popular citizens, hosting hundreds of local charity events, and volunteering his time for community fundraising initiatives. He has chaired fundraising activities for the Red Cross Side By Side Campaign, the Burlington Hamilton Wentworth United Way Campaigns, and the Hamilton Regional Cancer Centre’s ‘Hope Can’t Wait Campaign’, which raised $16 million. He was the original host of the McMaster Children’s Hospital Celebration that has raised $35 million. He also sits on the Juravinski Cancer centre Foundation Board of Directors.

Married, Mr. McLean has three grown children.

Mr. McLean, who has always had an interest in politics, said there is no shortage of issues affecting Hamilton to focus on whenever a federation election is called. First and foremost is the economy, which has made its presence felt in the Hamilton community with severe job losses to U.S. Steel in Hamilton, and other manufacturing companies.

“Something is not right here,” he said.

He also pointed out residents and small business owners continue to wrestle with ever higher taxes. A small business owner himself since 1969 when he started a production company, he has felt the burden of  taxes rising every year.

“Taxes are constantly going up,” he said.

Mr. McLean has no fear of taking on incumbent Conservative MP David Sweet, after his convincing 11,000-vote 2008 election victory over Liberal Arlene McFarlane VanderBeek and NDP candidate Gordon Guyatt.

Mr. Sweet upended Liberal MPP incumbent Russ Powers by 2,876 votes in 2006.

“Everybody is beatable,” said Mr. McLean. “And every riding is winnable. People will be able to take a look at David Sweet’s record over the last two years, and they will have to say no.”