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Committed to Oak Park ValuesI moved to Oak Park because I wanted to raise my family in a diverse community with good schools and quality of life. I’m running for Village Trustee because I want to help shape a future that builds on our community’ assets – our people and our values – and ensures that other families to have the same opportunity. |
Thomas Gary has spent nearly thirty years in public service as an elected official, community leader and military officer. He has significant experience in economic development, taxation, and higher education policy. He currently works in the Office of the State Treasurer as a Community Engagement specialist.
Thomas was the first African-American ever elected to the DeKalb County Board and the first African-American elected to the Triton Community College Board, where he focused on fiscal stability and led the creation of an Audit Committee.
He has over 20-years of military service in the US Naval Reserves, including in Operation Iraqi Freedom and at NATO Headquarters in Belgium. He also has a long history of community service at home. He is a former board member of St. Leonard's Ministries on the West Side of Chicago, a union steward and Executive Board member of Local 608 of the National Association of Letter Carriers, and a former member of the Oak Park Community Development Block Grant Citizen Advisory Commission. Currently, he serves as a member of the OPRF Food Pantry Board of Directors.
Thomas has a degree in political science from Northwestern University. He lives in Oak Park with his wife Cristal Thomas-Gary and son Alex Gary.
Thomas was the first African-American ever elected to the DeKalb County Board and the first African-American elected to the Triton Community College Board, where he focused on fiscal stability and led the creation of an Audit Committee.
He has over 20-years of military service in the US Naval Reserves, including in Operation Iraqi Freedom and at NATO Headquarters in Belgium. He also has a long history of community service at home. He is a former board member of St. Leonard's Ministries on the West Side of Chicago, a union steward and Executive Board member of Local 608 of the National Association of Letter Carriers, and a former member of the Oak Park Community Development Block Grant Citizen Advisory Commission. Currently, he serves as a member of the OPRF Food Pantry Board of Directors.
Thomas has a degree in political science from Northwestern University. He lives in Oak Park with his wife Cristal Thomas-Gary and son Alex Gary.