Former state Rep. O’Malley returns to radio roots in Alpena
ALPENA — Former state Rep. Jack O’Malley has put his political career on the back burner, moved to Alpena, and returned to his roots in radio.
O’Malley took a job with WATZ in Alpena as the director of operations and hosts the “Afternoon Drive” show. He said he is excited to return to the airways, share his decades’ worth of radio knowledge with the young staff, and work under General Manager Kim Orr, whom O’Malley said has big ambitions for the station.
O’Malley spent more than three decades on the air for WTCM-FM in Traverse City before running for office to represent Michigan’s 101st state House District.
The “Afternoon Drive” with O’Malley can be heard on 99.3 FM and is broadcast live on weekdays from 2 to 7 p.m.
He said radio and interacting with listeners remains in his blood, and, when the opportunity to join the crew at WATZ presented itself, it was too good to turn down and he moved to Alpena.
“Radio is kind of who I am,” O’Malley said. “Country music. A small town. Northern Michigan. And I’m excited. It is what I love to do, and I think Alpena is where I should be.”
Life is settling down, O’Malley said, as he no longer needs to commute back and forth between northern Michigan and Lansing for work. He said he enjoyed his time in office and believes he did some good work, especially with child care and transportation, but the COVID-19 pandemic changed the mood of people and politics became more heated.
“It is like COVID flipped a switch and many people have become just ugly, mean, and brutal,” he said. “Just because a person has the title councilperson, trustee, representative, or senator in front of your name, doesn’t give you the right to chew them, spit on them, and treat them lesser than. There are parts of politics I miss and parts of it I don’t.”
Asked if he had any plans to run for office, including for the 106th state House District representing Northeast Michigan, O’Malley said he wouldn’t run against current state Rep. Cam Cavitt.
He did not rule out doing so in the future or throwing his name in the hat for a different office.
“I would never say never, because I can’t predict the future, but, right now, I don’t think so,” he said. “I’m committed to the Alpena community and helping WATZ be the best station it can be.”
O’Malley said his life is more relaxed and he is eager to engage and connect with his listeners and members of the Alpena community. He said working with younger employees at the station is also exciting because he has many tips to pass along, which he hopes they, in turn, will pass along when they become mentors in the future.
“I’m enjoying working with everyone and the young people are eager to learn,” he said. “I’ve been in this business for nearly 40 years, and believe I know a thing or two. I want them to take what they learn from me and pass it on to others.”