Thomas White Jr. facts for kids
Thomas White, Jr. (born August 21, 1939 – died August 27, 2010) was an important leader in New York City. He served as a member of the New York City Council, representing parts of Queens. As a member of the Democratic Party, he worked for the people in the 28th Council district. This area includes neighborhoods like Jamaica, South Jamaica, and Richmond Hill.
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Who Was Thomas White, Jr.?
Thomas White, Jr. was a politician who dedicated his life to public service. He was born in 1939 and passed away in 2010. During his time, he played a key role in making decisions for New York City. He represented his community in the City Council, which is like a local government for the city.
Serving the Community in Queens
As a City Council member, Thomas White, Jr. worked to improve the lives of people in his district. This district covered several neighborhoods in Queens. His job involved listening to the needs of residents. He also helped create laws and policies that would benefit the community.
Understanding Term Limits
In 2009, Thomas White, Jr. ran for re-election. This election was special because of something called "term limits." Term limits are rules that say how many times a politician can be elected to the same job. For example, a rule might say you can only serve two terms.
The Vote on Term Limits
The New York City Council, including Thomas White, Jr., voted to change these term limits. This meant that politicians could serve more terms than before. This decision was made even though people had voted in the past to keep the shorter term limits.
Public Opinion and Elections
Many people in New York City were not happy about the change to term limits. Some believed that politicians should not be able to serve for too long. In the 2009 election, Thomas White, Jr. won his primary election by a very small number of votes. Some people thought this was because voters were upset about the term limits decision. Several other council members who voted to change the limits also lost their elections that year.
