[3] In 1972, he was elected to Belfast City Council in a by-election, representing the predominantly Catholic Lower Falls,[2] although this victory was only achieved because all the Irish nationalist and republican parties refused to nominate candidates, in protest at the introduction of internment.
[4] Mason had been elected unopposed as no other unionist candidates had stood although he did not campaign on the Falls for safety reasons, stating "I am sure there are a few trigger happy republicans in there and I don't want to take the risk of being a handy target for one of them".
[6] Due to his eccentricities and the fact that he wasn't tied to any major party, Mason received wide coverage in the local press whilst a member of the council.
[9] Following a review of local government in Northern Ireland, Belfast's council wards were redrawn in 1973, and Mason lost his seat in the ensuing election.
[2] Mason returned to Northern Ireland in the mid-1980s, suffering a major heart attack on the journey over, but he established a new antiques shop in Larne, and became a well-known character in the town, wearing colourful tracksuits and baseball caps, and driving a pink Cadillac El Dorado.
[2] He was known for his flamboyant style of dress whilst attending council meetings in Larne, typically wearing tracksuit bottoms, Nike Air Max trainers and a multi-coloured jersey in a chamber where suits were standard attire.
[20] In 1998 he ran as an independent pro-Belfast Agreement candidate, with his campaign largely focussing on what he saw as the lack of commitment to the deal from the Ulster Unionist Party.
Fellow councillor and friend Danny O'Connor had mentioned family bereavements including his mother and aunt had taken a toll on Mason's health.