New Hendry Democratic Chairman

Joe Thomas - New Democratic Chair For Hendry County

LABELLE, FL.-- Joe Thomas of LaBelle was elected Chairman of the Hendry County Democratic Executive Committee at the local arm of the Florida Democratic Party's  organizational meeting on December 1 following the November 4 Presidential Election.  This marked Thomas�s return to Hendry County Democratic politics after a twelve-year absence.

Thomas, a Florida native, has called LaBelle home ever since August 14, 1951 when he joined his parents Milt and Frankye Thomas, who had moved to LaBelle earlier that summer.  Joe graduated from LaBelle High School in 1958 and attended the University of Florida where he received both his BA and MAT majoring in history.

Thomas returned to LaBelle in the fall of 1967 and became active with the LaBelle Jaycees where he held almost every local office as well as 15th District Vice President and first Region 11 Director.  He was Swamp Cabbage Festival Chairman on three different occasions.  The Jaycees honored his service to the community by naming him Jaycees International Senator 22985.  Joe was also active in the LaBelle Art League as well as with the Calusa Valley Historical Society.

Joe Thomas became involved with the Hendry County Democratic Executive Committee following the 1968 Presidential Election and held the offices of Precinct Committeeman, Vice Chairman, Chairman and State Committeeman over the next 28 years.

Work took Thomas away from LaBelle from 1997 to 2005 when he retired and returned to the home he continued to maintain in LaBelle.  History had always been his first love; so, he quickly accepted an offer to teach at Edison College in Fort Myers when he was approached in the fall of 2006,  Joe Thomas is an adjunct professor at Edison State College where he teaches History of World Civilizations and United States History.

Thomas said he looks forward to working with Carol Griggs, current Hendry County DEC Vice Chair and immediate Past Chair as well as with R. Mitchell and Mary Thomas, the State Democratic Committee members for Hendry County, the other officers and precinct committee members in building an even stronger Democratic Party in Hendry County.