Harry Thomas Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harry Thomas Jr.
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Thomas in 2023
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| Council of the District of Columbia, Ward 5 | |
| In office 2007–2012 |
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| Preceded by | Vincent Orange |
| Succeeded by | Kenyan McDuffie |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 21, 1960 |
| Died | Washington, DC |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Residence | Washington, D.C. |
| Alma mater | Bowie State University (B.A.) |
Harry Thomas Jr. (born October 21, 1960) is a Democratic politician from Washington, D.C.. He was elected to represent Ward 5 on the Council of the District of Columbia in 2006. He served on the Council until 2012.
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About Harry Thomas Jr.
Harry Thomas Jr. is the son of Harry Thomas Sr., who also served on the Ward 5 Council. His mother, Romaine B. Thomas, was a principal in D.C. Public Schools. Harry Thomas Jr. went to D.C. public schools and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School. He earned a degree in Public Relations and Marketing from Bowie State University.
Before joining the Council, Thomas was the Vice President of Public Affairs for the Public Benefits Corporation. This organization was formerly known as D.C. General Hospital.
Community Involvement
Thomas has been very active in his community. He served as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner. He also chaired the Woodridge Health Clinic.
He was the President of the D.C. Young Democrats. He was also an elected member of the D.C. Democratic State party. In this role, he helped organize many local and national events. Thomas also worked for the national Democratic Party as its Treasurer. He was the Adult and Youth Chair of the Neighborhood Planning Council.
Thomas is a member of several important groups. These include the YMCA, the NAACP, and the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He is also a member of the Woodridge Boys and Girls Club.
Political Journey
On September 12, 2006, Harry Thomas Jr. won the Democratic primary election for the Ward 5 council member position. He received 39 percent of the votes, beating 10 other candidates. The previous Ward 5 council member, Vincent Orange, decided to run for mayor instead of seeking re-election.
On November 7, 2006, Thomas won the general election with a large majority, getting 85 percent of the votes. He was re-elected to his position in 2010.
Changes in His Political Role
In 2011, a civil lawsuit was filed against Thomas. It claimed that public money meant for charity and youth groups was used for personal expenses. Thomas agreed to repay the money. He resigned from his council seat on January 5, 2012, and could no longer serve on the Council.
After His Council Service
After his time on the Council, Harry Thomas Jr. continued to be involved in politics. In 2020, he became a committeeman for the District of Columbia Democratic State Committee. He represented Ward 5 in this role. In 2023, he was elected as the chair of the Ward 5 Democrats. He ran for this position without any opponents.
