 In 1989 he joined the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and in 1993 his full-time political career started after he was elected to the Zadar City Council.In 1994 he became Zadar's deputy mayor, and from 1994 to 2003 he served as mayor of the city.From 1995 to 2003 he was also a member of the Croatian Parliament, serving as one of representatives from Zadar County.