Tom King (Mississippi politician)

Tom King
Member of the Mississippi Transportation Commission from the Southern District
In office
January 3, 2012 – January 4, 2024
Preceded byWayne Brown
Succeeded byCharles Busby
Member of the Mississippi State Senate
from the 44th district
In office
January 4, 2000 – January 3, 2012
Preceded byJim Bean
Succeeded byJohn A. Polk
Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
from the 104th district
In office
January 5, 1993 – January 4, 2000
Preceded byBill Jones
Succeeded byMike Lott
Personal details
Born
Thomas Edward King, Jr.

(1947-07-19) July 19, 1947 (age 77)
Hattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseSusan Lynn Patterson
ResidencePetal, Mississippi
EducationUniversity of Southern Mississippi (BS)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceUnited States Air Force
UnitSecurity Police
Battles/warsVietnam 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.[4] 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.[4]

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.[4]

Personal life

He lives in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and is married to Susan Lynn Patterson. He has two children.[2]

He is affiliated with the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, American Legion and VFW.[3]

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. ^ a b "Commissioner Tom King announces retirement, will not seek reelection". Mississippi Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  3. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c d Corder, Frank (November 16, 2022). "Southern District Transportation Commissioner Tom King will not seek re-election in 2023". Magnolia Tribune. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  5. ^ Corder, Frank (July 26, 2022). "Southern Transportation Commissioner King says he hasn't decided on re-election bid". Magnolia Tribune. Retrieved March 28, 2024.