David L. Thomas
Encyclopedia
David Lloyd Thomas is a Republican
member of the South Carolina Senate
, representing the 8th District since 1984. His district includes part of Greenville
. He is also a partner at the firm Moore, Taylor & Thomas, P.A. (formerly Wilson, Moore, Taylor & Thomas, P.A.) Current South Carolina 2nd District Congressman Joe Wilson was a partner with the firm prior to his election to Congress.
He is Chairman of the Banking and Insurance Committee. He is also Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Sub-committee on Constitutional/Administrative Officers. He ran for Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina in 2002. He finished first in the Republican primary but lost the run-off to fellow state senator Andre Bauer
.
Previously, he served as a Greenville City Councilman from 1979 to 1984, serving as Mayor Pro-Tempore from 1983 to 1984.
He served as Greenville Chairman of the 1980 Ronald Reagan
for President Campaign as well as State Co-Chair (along with SC State Representative Terry Haskins) of the 1988 Jack Kemp
for President Campaign. In 2008, he served as State Legislative Co-Chair of the Mike Huckabee
for President.
He is also the founder of Palmetto Pride (Litter Task Force) which is an organization aimed at litter cleanup. He has degrees from UNC-Charlotte (Bachelors Degree), TCU, Southwestern Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity), and the University of South Carolina
(Juris Doctor).
Thomas was one of the first Republican state senators to call for the resignation or impeachment of Governor
Mark Sanford
. In August, he wrote a letter to state legislative leaders saying that in his view, Sanford's use of expensive plane tickets on state business were an impeachable offense.
On June 6, 2009, Thomas announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives
, challenging incumbent Bob Inglis
in the Republican primary for the 4th District. Thomas ran well to Inglis' right, and has criticized many of Inglis' recent votes. Inglis had been one of the most conservative members of the House when he represented the district from 1993 to 1999, but his voting record since his return to Congress in 2005 has been considerably more moderate. Thomas finished a distant fourth in the primary, winning only 12 percent of the vote.
Thomas did not have to give up his seat to run for Congress; South Carolina state senators serve four-year terms coinciding with presidential elections, and Thomas won't be up for reelection again until 2012.
In September of 2011 USA Today
ran a story on legislative pensions and how legislators abused their power to "pump up their pensions." Thomas was the poster child for this article. USA Today found that he had taken home over $148,000 more than other South Carolina legislators.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the South Carolina Senate
South Carolina Senate
The South Carolina Senate is the upper house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the lower house being the South Carolina House of Representatives...
, representing the 8th District since 1984. His district includes part of Greenville
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
. He is also a partner at the firm Moore, Taylor & Thomas, P.A. (formerly Wilson, Moore, Taylor & Thomas, P.A.) Current South Carolina 2nd District Congressman Joe Wilson was a partner with the firm prior to his election to Congress.
He is Chairman of the Banking and Insurance Committee. He is also Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Sub-committee on Constitutional/Administrative Officers. He ran for Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina in 2002. He finished first in the Republican primary but lost the run-off to fellow state senator Andre Bauer
André Bauer
Rudolph Andreas "André" Bauer was the 87th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina from 2003 to 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party...
.
Previously, he served as a Greenville City Councilman from 1979 to 1984, serving as Mayor Pro-Tempore from 1983 to 1984.
He served as Greenville Chairman of the 1980 Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
for President Campaign as well as State Co-Chair (along with SC State Representative Terry Haskins) of the 1988 Jack Kemp
Jack Kemp
Jack French Kemp was an American politician and a collegiate and professional football player. A Republican, he served as Housing Secretary in the administration of President George H. W. Bush from 1989 to 1993, having previously served nine terms as a congressman for Western New York's 31st...
for President Campaign. In 2008, he served as State Legislative Co-Chair of the Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee
Michael "Mike" Dale Huckabee is an American politician who served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries, finishing second in delegate count and third in both popular vote and number of states won . He won...
for President.
He is also the founder of Palmetto Pride (Litter Task Force) which is an organization aimed at litter cleanup. He has degrees from UNC-Charlotte (Bachelors Degree), TCU, Southwestern Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity), and the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
(Juris Doctor).
Thomas was one of the first Republican state senators to call for the resignation or impeachment of Governor
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
Mark Sanford
Mark Sanford
Marshall Clement "Mark" Sanford Jr. is an American politician from South Carolina, who was the 115th Governor of South Carolina from 2003 to 2011....
. In August, he wrote a letter to state legislative leaders saying that in his view, Sanford's use of expensive plane tickets on state business were an impeachable offense.
On June 6, 2009, Thomas announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, challenging incumbent Bob Inglis
Bob Inglis
Robert Durden "Bob" Inglis, Sr. is a former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1993 to 1999, and then again from 2005 until 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party...
in the Republican primary for the 4th District. Thomas ran well to Inglis' right, and has criticized many of Inglis' recent votes. Inglis had been one of the most conservative members of the House when he represented the district from 1993 to 1999, but his voting record since his return to Congress in 2005 has been considerably more moderate. Thomas finished a distant fourth in the primary, winning only 12 percent of the vote.
Thomas did not have to give up his seat to run for Congress; South Carolina state senators serve four-year terms coinciding with presidential elections, and Thomas won't be up for reelection again until 2012.
In September of 2011 USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
ran a story on legislative pensions and how legislators abused their power to "pump up their pensions." Thomas was the poster child for this article. USA Today found that he had taken home over $148,000 more than other South Carolina legislators.
External links
- David Thomas for Congress official congressional campaign site
- South Carolina Legislature - Senator David L. Thomas official SC Senate website
- Project Vote Smart - Senator David L. Thomas (SC) profile
- Follow the Money - David Thomas