Buzz Thomas

Infobox_State_Senator
name=Samuel 'Buzz' Thomas

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state_senate=Michigan
state= Michigan
district=4th
term_start=2003
term_end=
preceded=
succeeded= Incumbent
date of birth=Birth date and age|1969|01|28|
place of birth=
date of death=
place of death=
spouse=
profession=
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party=Democratic

Samuel 'Buzz' Thomas (born January 28, 1969) is a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. He is a Democratic member of the Michigan Senate, representing the 4th District since 2003 and currently serving as the Democratic Floor Leader. His district is completely located in the city of Detroit and includes portions of northwest, east, central, and southwest Detroit. Previously he was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1997 to 2002.

Early life

Thomas was born in Detroit in 1969 and spent his entire adult life in Detroit. Before becoming an elected official he worked as a homebuilder in metro Detroit, where he was Construction Manager for Parkside Building Company and Avis Tech Park partners, managing both commercial renovations and single-family, residential construction.

Political career

In 1996, one hundred and four years after his great grand uncle William Web Ferguson was elected to the legislature, Thomas was elected to the Michigan State House of Representatives. He represented the 10th district, located in northwest Detroit. He served in the House for six years. In 2002, he was elected by his House colleagues as the House Democratic Leader, one of the youngest members ever elected to that position and only the second African American elected as a House leader.

In 2002 he was elected to the Michigan Senate and re-elected in 2006. In 2007, his colleagues once again elected him to a leadership position, as the Senate Democratic Floor Leader. He is one of the few Michigan legislators to have held leadership positions in both the Michigan House and Senate.

Recognition

Senator Thomas received many recognitions for his service, including being named one of Michigan’s five “Key Technology Leaders” by the "Detroit Free Press", One Of Four Up-And-Coming Leaders by Savoy, “Most Dedicated Detroiter” and “Best Local Politician” by Real Detroit Magazine, "A Rising Star" by both the "The Detroit News" and Hotline, and an "Under-40 Political 'Buzz' Saw" by the Michigan Front Page. He has received awards and recognition from over two dozen community groups, publications, and organizations.

Committees

Buzz Thomas is the ranking Democrat on the Economic Development and Regulatory Reform Committee. He also serves on the Homeland Security and Emerging Technologies Committee and on the Energy Policy Committee.

Electoral History

*2006 Election for the Michigan State Senate - 4th District

*1998 Election for the Michigan State House

*1996 Election for the Michigan State House

External links

External links

* [http://www.detbuzz.com/ Personal site]
* [http://www.senate.mi.gov/thomas/ Michigan Senate - Buzz Thomas]
* [http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=11697 Project Vote Smart - Senator Samuel Thomas (MI)] profile
*"Follow the Money" - Samuel Buzz Thomas III
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200622&c=423891 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200422&c=407104 2004] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200222&c=390904 2002] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200022&c=362182 2000] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=199822&c=361897 1998] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=199622&c=361233 1996] campaign contributions
* [http://www.senate.mi.gov/dem/ Michigan Senate Democratic Caucus]
* [http://www.michiganliberal.com/tag.do?tag=SD04 Michigan Liberal - SD04]