Kent first ran for city council in 1978 in Alta Vista Ward, but lost to incumbent alderman Don Kay.
Kent had been a supporter of Kay's in the previous election, but became disillusioned citing an inattentiveness to projects in the ward and taking an "irresponsible stand" on the Quebec-Ontario construction border war.
[4] He ran on a platform on providing services to the Eastway Gardens neighbourhood and turning the CN railway into a rapid transit route.
[14] The main issue of the campaign would be over Dewar's support of an $8.4 million arts centre at the Ottawa Teacher's College, which Kent opposed.
[18] He also ran for the nomination for the Tories in Ottawa—Carleton to run in the 1984 Canadian federal election,[19] but lost to Barry Turner on June 26, 1984, 630 votes to 441 on a second ballot.
[20] After losing his mayoral race, Kent moved to Florida Avenue in neighbouring Alta Vista Ward.
In 1985, he entered the race to run for alderman for the ward, which was an open seat, as incumbent Greg MacDougall was retiring.
[25] While on council - and despite their friendship, Kent led a defeated motion to condemn Durrell for his "unilateral decision" to fight against plans to build a new regional headquarters.
Despite running on a platform of more green spaces in 1985, during the '88 campaign, Kent was optimistic to the building of the "Alta Vista Parkway", a proposal to build a parkway on NCC land to alleviate congestion in the ward (but was never built) [28] At the beginning of the 1988–1991 term, Kent was seen as "shifting to the middle" on council, in a perceived move to run for mayor in 1991.
[29] In 1989, Kent led a 'crusade' denouncing Quebec's Bill 178 French-only law, calling it a "violation of human rights" and suggested the city end its language advisory committee.
[37] Kent also supported instituting light rail under Downtown Ottawa instead of buses, an idea which received a "chilly reception" by OC Transpo commissioners.