The son of Clifford and Kathleen Reid,[1] Frank Reid moved to Ottawa at the age of 12, and attended Fisher Park High School. After his football career, he moved back to the Ottawa area in 1976, and began a career as a computer salesman.[4] He later entered politics, running twice unsuccessfully for a spot on Nepean City Council before being elected in 1980. At the time of the 1980 election, he was a tax consultant and promised to "improve rapport between business and council, provide more activities for youth and improve long-range road planning".[5] He served on city council until 1991, and also as an Ottawa-Carleton regional councillor for Nepean from 1985 to 1991.[4] He ran for the Chair position of the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton in 1991 and 1994.
As of the 1991 election, he was separated from his wife Connie, and he was living with regional councillor Fiona Faucher.[4] He would later marry Faucher.[6] Later in life, he married Louise Matte.[1] He had three children.[6]