Thomas McDermott, Jr.

Thomas McDermott, Jr.
Mayor Thomas McDermott, Jr.

Thomas Matthew McDermott, Jr.,(D) (born March 3, 1969) is the 20th mayor of Hammond, Indiana, USA, Indiana's 6th largest city. He took office on January 1, 2004, the first elected government office he has held.

His father, Thomas McDermott, Sr., (R) was the 18th Mayor of Hammond and served from 1984-1992.

Contents

Early Childhood

Thomas McDermott Sr. was a known celebrity in Hammond for his successful work in politics and for his son Thomas McDermott Jr., who also showed much promise as a political leader. McDermott has been quoted saying "My father is a hard working determined man. He was there for me when I needed him most" and "Growing up with your dad as mayor isn't what you expect it to be: kids might not pick on you, but your phone would ring off the hook everyday. I remember when I was 14 and I picked up the phone at around 2 in the morning only to hear death threats"

Life before politics

After high school, McDermott joined the United States Navy. After the Persian Gulf War he attended Purdue University Calumet and later the University of Notre Dame Law School near South Bend, Indiana.[1]

Politics

During his first term in office, McDermott is notably credited for the razing of the River Park Apartment complex.[citation needed] He also attracted a Cabela's store and a future water park resort to the former Woodmar Country Club site in south Hammond.[citation needed]

On March 28, 2008, McDermott endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton for President and hosted a rally for the senator in which she attended.[citation needed] Senator Clinton's arrival in Hammond was the first visit of any presidential political candidate since Ronald Reagan visited Hammond (Hessville Park) in 1976, and Robert Kennedy in 1968.[citation needed] During the Democratic Presidential primaries in Indiana, McDermott was seen on CNN questioning Gary, Indiana mayor, Rudy Clay about votes that had not yet been posted many hours after the polls had closed.[citation needed] This "mayor fight" was satirized the following day on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.[citation needed] He also criticized the busing of high school students to voting booths saying "These kids come from the worst performing schools in the state of Indiana and we are giving them a day off to go vote for Obama. They can vote on election day like everybody else."[1]

In November 2009, McDermott protested the arrest of his close associate David Woerpel, a postal worker, precinct captain and political commentator,Which charges were later dropped and accused his political rival Lake County Sheriff Rogelio "Roy" Dominguez of "playing politics by targeting Woerpel".[2]

McDermott was briefly a candidate in the 2010 United States Senate election in Indiana, but dropped out, and endorsed fellow candidate Brad Ellsworth.[3]

Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr's Autograph

Personal life

He is married to Marissa McDermott of Warsaw, Poland and has four children. He lives in the Woodmar neighborhood of Hammond near the local Purdue University Calumet campus.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ Bill Dolan Hammond mayor: School field trip 'unethical' politicking; Busing Gary students to vote early becomes a controversy April 24, 2008 NWI
  2. ^ Bill Dolan 'Mailman's' criminal case pushes envelope November 10, 2009 NWI
  3. ^ http://www.post-trib.com/news/2052126,mcdermott0217.article

External links


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