Tom's Bio

I was raised in Cedar Falls in a large family grounded in faith, hard work, and responsibility. I’m the son of public-school teachers, the grandson of a railroad engineer and union member, and the great-grandson of an Irish police officer. We were solidly middle class, and like many Iowa families, we made sacrifices. Sometimes my dad worked a second job as a weekend night clerk at a motel to help make ends meet. I worked my way through college sacking groceries. Those experiences shaped my values—and still do.

My wife, Lori, is a speech-language pathologist at Broadlawns Hospital. We’ve lived in Iowa House District 28 near Van Meter for more than 20 years. Our children attended Iowa public schools. Nathan is now a medical resident in internal medicine, and Cari is a performing artist focused on musical theatre. I stay active in our community as a youth sports coach, high-school debate coach, and American Legion volunteer.

Public service has always been part of my life. I've advocated for others my whole career. I’ve chaired my local precinct caucus, served as a poll worker in Dallas County, and was honored to serve as Chair of the Dallas County Democrats from 2023 to 2025. I’ve also chaired the Iowa State Bar Association’s political action committee and previously led the 20th Century Forum, an organization of young professionals committed to civic engagement.
I’ve served the State of Iowa as Chair and member of the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning and Advisory Council and the Public Safety Advisory Board—appointed by both Democratic and Republican governors. I’ve also served as Chair of a preschool serving low-income families and a foundation dedicated to leadership and a civil society.