Before entering politics, Bourns was a journalist[6] working as the co-editor[7] for the city's "counter-culture" newspaper, A Usually Reliable Source and as a writer/salesman for The Centre Town News.
He ran on a platform of replacing the property tax system with an income tax, changes in zoning by-laws, and the closing of establishments which profit from the exploitation of sex, the cancellation of the Central Canada Exhibition's lease at Lansdowne Park and a fully subsidized rapid transit system.
He ran on a reform platform, advocating for the creation of non-profit housing, adequate day-care, recreation facilities and more greenspace in Downtown Ottawa.
[13] After being elected, Bourns ran for a spot on the city's executive committee, but lost by two votes in what was seen as a "setback for an informal alliance of reform (members of council)".
He called for a freeze on the development of new office complexes until the federal government can agree on the direction in growth in the ward.
[16] Bourns easily defeated his conservative challengers, winning 70% of the vote in an election which saw city council shift to the left.
However, Bourns worked with businesses to help revitalize Bank Street, the city's main downtown thoroughfare.
[23] After the election, Bourns' wife was appointed as the executive assistant to mayor Marion Dewar, which some aldermen complained was a conflict of interest.
Bourns lived in Dalhousie Ward[29] at the time, but did not want to run against incumbent Rolf Hasenack, who he believed was doing a good job.
During his first term as the alderman for Billings, he worked with South Keys residents to persuade developers to reduce the number of townhouses proposed in the neighbourhood.
[41] On November 21, 1985, Bourns and his wife opened up the "Sussex Club", a women-only health spa located at 45 Rideau Street.
In 1993, while working as an accountant for KPMG,[45] he was appointed by the provincial government to study the possible amalgamation of the region's five school boards.