Initially a member of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), he was a Moyle Councillor for the Ballycastle DEA from 1985 until his resignation in 2002.
Born in Ballymoney, Kane joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve in 1974 and served until 1984.
He joined the DUP, and was elected to Moyle District Council in 1985, serving as its Chair in 1990 and 1996.
In 1996 he was an unsuccessful candidate in the Northern Ireland Forum election in North Antrim.
He left the DUP soon afterwards, citing ill health,[3] and stood down from his council seat soon afterwards, prompting a by-election.