Tom King (Mississippi politician) explained

Tom King
Office:Member of the Mississippi Transportation Commission from the Southern District
Term Start:January 3, 2012
Term End:January 4, 2024
Predecessor:Wayne Brown
Successor:Charles Busby
State Senate1:Mississippi State
District1:44th
Term Start1:January 4, 2000
Term End1:January 3, 2012
Predecessor1:Jim Bean
Successor1:John A. Polk
State House2:Mississippi
District2:104th
Term Start2:January 5, 1993
Term End2:January 4, 2000
Predecessor2:Bill Jones
Successor2:Mike Lott
Birthname:Thomas Edward King, Jr.
Birth Date:19 July 1947
Alma Mater:University of Southern Mississippi (BS)
Party:Republican
Spouse:Susan Lynn Patterson
Residence:Petal, Mississippi
Allegiance: United States
Branch:United States Air Force
Unit:Security Police
Battles:Vietnam War

Thomas Edward King, Jr. (born July 19, 1947) is an American politician. A Republican, he served for nearly two decades in the Mississippi Legislature before successfully running for the Southern District seat on the Mississippi Transportation Commission in 2011. He retired from the position in 2023.

Early life and education

King was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and graduated from Petal High School. He graduate with a Bachelor's degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is a veteran from the Vietnam War serving in the United States Air Force as an Air Policeman.[1] [2]

Career

He was the business owner of a historical restoration consulting and contracting business.[3]

A Republican, King was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1993 for the 104th district before being elected to the Mississippi State Senate for the 44th district in 2000.[4] In the senate, he served as the chairman of the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee. During his time as senator, he authored a bill that supplied a $300 million bond for highways and bridges; a bill that promoted cyclist safety; and a bill that created the Mississippi Wireless Communications Commission.

In the 2011 Mississippi elections, he ran for the Mississippi Transportation Commission for the Southern District. He ran against former state senator Scottie Cuevas. He won with 67% of the vote, and went on to defeat Democrat contender Larry Albritton in the general election, with over 60% of the vote. In 2015, he was uncontested in the primary and won the general election with over 67% percent of the vote. In 2019, he won the Republican primary and won the general election unopposed.[5]

In November 2022, he declared that he would not seek reelection to the Transportation Commission.

Personal life

He lives in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and is married to Susan Lynn Patterson. He has two children.

He is affiliated with the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, American Legion and VFW.

Notes and References

  1. MS State House Resolution No. 46, A Resolution Commending Representative Tom King for His Outstanding Service as a Member of the House of Representatives, 1999.
  2. Web site: Commissioner Tom King announces retirement, will not seek reelection . March 28, 2024 . Mississippi Department of Transportation . en.
  3. MS Senate Concurrent Resolution 505, A Concurrent Resolution Commending Southern District Transportation Commissioner, Former State Senator, Former Mississippi Representative and Vietnam Veteran Thomas Edward (Tom) King, Jr., for His Distinguished Public Service on the Occasion of His Retirement, 2023.
  4. Web site: Corder . Frank . 2022-11-16 . Southern District Transportation Commissioner Tom King will not seek re-election in 2023 . 2024-03-28 . Magnolia Tribune . en-US.
  5. Web site: Corder . Frank . 2022-07-26 . Southern Transportation Commissioner King says he hasn't decided on re-election bid . 2024-03-28 . Magnolia Tribune . en-US.