Eric Von hosts one of Milwaukee's most popular talk shows on 1290 WMCS-AM. He's a change agent and a community connector who offers a fine perspective on Milwaukee issues. He's a non-native, who has in less than 17 years moved here, away and back.

As deputy campaign director, he helped Mayor Barrett achieve his office. But, today he is out of the political game choosing to focus on the policies and ideas of the community each and every day from 2 to 6 p.m. on WMCS.

We sat down with Von, a 20-year veteran of media, recently and got some very interesting thoughts on Milwaukee, its people (including grades of key politicians) and its policies.

OMC: Let's begin with an icebreaker. You're invited to a party and you're asked to bring a dish to pass. What do you bring and why?

Erin Von: Probably something pasta related. I kind of fancy myself a cheap cook. I fix a lot of pasta and shrimp dishes so probably something along those lines.

OMC: Give us, please, the three-minute Eric Von story?

EV: I came here in '91 from (Washington) D.C., where I was born and raised. Worked in radio for a number of years doing music, doing news, did some talk radio. Kind of got the bug and looked for some opportunities in talk radio.

It just so happened that one of the guys that worked with me in DC used to work for Mr. Davis (Willie Davis, former Green Bay Packer and owner of the Milwaukee Radio Alliance) who owns this station. He suggested that I get in touch with either Mr. Davis or somebody in his operation because he thought he had heard that they were looking to do some talk at one of his stations. So, I contacted the program director, sent him a tape and a résumé. They invited me out for an interview, and the rest is history. I've been here since then doing at first the morning show for 10 years -- it was the only talk show on the station for 10 years.

OMC: You left for a while, though?

EV: I left in 2001, moved to Phoenix, and stayed in contact with Mr. Davis while I was away. Then we agreed to finally give a shot to something that I had been suggesting for a long time -- a full talk format. We agreed on that and I came back, I did afternoons and that was new 'cause we hadn't had anything like that in the afternoons before.

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