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BACKGROUND: Tom is a native Floridian and nearly a life-long resident of Orlando. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy and served six years as a Navy pilot and flight instructor. Upon resigning his commission, he received a masters degree in public administration from the University of West Florida and his J.D. from the University of Florida. He then served as the primary assistant to founding partner J. Charles Gray, from 1978 to 1985 when Gray was the Orange County Attorney. EXPERIENCE: Tom served on the 1986 and 1988 charter commissions that resulted in sweeping changes to the form of government for Orange County, including the creation of the county office known as the Orange County Mayor. In 1990, the first county mayor, Linda Chapin, asked Tom to serve as her county attorney. He accepted and stayed in the position for twelve years, serving under three county mayors and gaining a reputation statewide for his expertise in all areas of local government law. In 2001, his leadership resulted in the County Attorney's Office being given the ABA's Jefferson Fordham Award for government law-office accomplishment - a recognition that the office was perhaps the top government law office in the nation. Upon leaving the county in 2002, Tom rejoined GrayRobinson as a partner. He specializes in all aspects of state and local government law, such as land use, taxation and finance, utility law, constitutional law, administrative law and litigation law. In 2003 and 2004, Tom was once again appointed to serve on the Orange County Charter Review Commission and was elected by its members to serve as the Commission Chairman. EDUCATION: United States Naval Academy, Bachelor of Science, 1969) University of West Florida, Master of Public Administration, 1976) University of Florida, J.D. (1978) PROFESSIONAL: The Florida Bar Local Government Law Section, Environmental and Land Use Law Section National Lawyers Association CIVIC: Director, Central Florida Zoological Society, Inc. (1986-87) Officer and Director, Florida Association of County Attorneys (President 1997-98, Chair 1998-99) Member, Judicial Nominating Commission, Ninth Judicial Circuit (1989-91) Chairman, Orange County Charter Review Commission (Currently) Member, Orange County Charter Review Commission (1988, 2004) Chairman, Orange County Citizens Charter Committee (1986) Member, Board of Directors, Coalition for the Homeless (Currently) Member, Mayor Buddy Dyer's Downtown Transition Strategic Task Force (2003) Member, Board of Directors, Workforce Advantage Academy (Currently) Director, National Association of Christian and Jews (1993-2000).
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