Additionally, Bleakes was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for North Down from 1982 until 1986.
Bleakes was first elected to Lisburn Borough Council in 1977 as a United Ulster Unionist Party (UUUP) councillor for 'Area B' (equivalent to the current 'Downshire' electoral area.)
He won the last seat, just six votes ahead of his nearest challenger, the closest margin of the election.
Bleakes stood unsuccessfully in the 1998 Northern Ireland Assembly election in Lagan Valley.
However, a change in electoral legislation meant that he was unable to run under that label in 2001 and he lost his seat standing as an Independent.