He previously served in the S.C. House of Representatives, where he made a name for himself across the state as a hardworking House member who puts his constituents ahead of entrenched special interests. Folks in the greater Aiken area know of his weekly email update newsletters and his attempt to always keep taxpayers informed. Tom has been lauded for leading efforts to restructure state government, as well as for his creative ideas to decrease South Carolina's high public school dropout rate. He has also gained notoriety for his service on the House Judiciary Committee and the Governor's Nuclear Advisory Commission.

Currently, Tom serves on the Judiciary Committee, Election Laws Subcommittee, and the Governor's Nuclear Advisory Commission.

Born and raised in Aiken, Tom graduated from Aiken High and the University of South Carolina where he was student body president at both schools. Tom has served or currently serves on the boards of the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce, Aiken County Dollars for Scholars (past chair), Children's Place (past chair), Aiken County Public Education Partners, USC Young Alumni Association (past chair), USC Aiken Partnership, South Carolina Honors College, and several committees of the South Carolina Bar.

Tom is married to his wife Heather and his daughters are Hailey (8) and Ashley (4). Tom is an active member of St. John's Methodist Church and he volunteers as an attorney for Millbrook Baptist Church.

Representative Legislative Scorecards- * S.C. BIPEC- 96 in 2009; 100 in 2010 * State Chamber of Commerce- 100 in 2009; 93 in 2010 * South Carolina Family Council- 100 in 2009/2010 * Conservation Voters of SC- 100 in 2009/2010 * National Rifle Association (NRA) - "A" in 2009/2010