Fred Thomas
Fred Thomas (Republican Party) was a member of the Montana State Senate, representing District 44. He assumed office in 2013. He left office on January 4, 2021.
Thomas (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Montana State Senate to represent District 44. He won in the general election on November 8, 2016.
Thomas was elected as state Senate majority leader in November 2018.
Thomas served in the Senate previously from 1997 to 2005 (during which time he spent four years as majority leader), and the Montana House of Representatives from 1985 to 2003.
Biography
Thomas earned his B.S. in business and finance from Montana State University in 1981. His professional experience includes working as a certified insurance counselor, and the branch manager of Western States Insurance Agency's locations in Hamilton and Stevensville.[1][2][3]
Committee assignments
2019-2020
Thomas was assigned to the following committees:
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Rules, Chair |
| • Taxation |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Thomas served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Highways and Transportation |
| • Public Health, Welfare and Safety, Chair |
| • Rules |
| • Taxation, Vice Chair |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Thomas served on the following committees:
| Montana committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Fish and Game |
| • Public Health, Welfare and Safety |
| • Rules |
| • Taxation, Vice Chair |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2020
- See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2020
Fred Thomas was not able to file for re-election due to term limits.
2016
- See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Montana State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 14, 2016.
Incumbent Fred Thomas defeated James Olsen in the Montana State Senate District 44 general election.[4][5]
| Montana State Senate, District 44 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Fred Thomas Incumbent |
70.03% | 7,614 | |
| Democratic | James Olsen | 29.97% | 3,258 | |
| Total Votes | 10,872 | |||
| Source: Montana Secretary of State | ||||
James Olsen defeated Lee Tickell in the Montana State Senate District 44 Democratic primary.[6][7]
| Montana State Senate, District 44 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | James Olsen |
61.64% | 945 | |
| Democratic | Lee Tickell | 38.36% | 588 | |
| Total Votes | 1,533 | |||
| Source: Montana Secretary of State | ||||
Incumbent Fred Thomas ran unopposed in the Montana State Senate District 44 Republican primary.[8][9]
| Montana State Senate, District 44 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Fred Thomas Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2012
- See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2012
Thomas won election in the 2012 election for Montana State Senate, District 45. Thomas defeated Gary MacLaren in the June 5 primary election and defeated Dan Metully (D) and Rob McCoy (L) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[10][11]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Fred Thomas |
58.3% | 6,509 | |
| Democratic | Dan Metully | 33.8% | 3,772 | |
| Libertarian | Rob McCoy | 7.9% | 883 | |
| Total Votes | 11,164 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Fred Thomas |
58.2% | 2,310 |
| Gary MacLaren | 41.8% | 1,656 |
| Total Votes | 3,966 | |
Campaign themes
2012
Thomas' website highlighted the following campaign themes:[12]
Creating Real Jobs
- "Fred understands that Montanans want jobs created by their communities, not their congressman."
- "Fred will work to create the business climate we need to attract and keep long-lasting jobs in Montana."
Developing Montana’s Natural Resources
- "Fred believes Montanans have a right to benefit from our state’s natural resources. Developing our resources will boost our economy, create jobs, and help fund our state budget."
- "Fred believes we should harvest Montana’s wind, timber, coal, oil, and natural gas. In developing our natural resources, we can protect and profit."
Limited Government
- "Fred knows the best way to put Montanans back to work is to get the government out of the way."
- "Fred will bring fiscal sanity back to Helena by cutting spending and getting our fiscal house in order."
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Montana scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
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In 2024, the Montana State Legislature was not in session. |
2023
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In 2023, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 2 to May 2.
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2022
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In 2022, the Montana State Legislature was not in session. |
2021
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In 2021, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 4 to April 29.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Montana State Legislature was not in session. |
2019
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In 2019, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 7 through April 25.
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2018
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In 2018, the Montana State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2017
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In 2017, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 2 through April 28.
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2016
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In 2016, the Montana State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2015
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In 2015, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 5 through April 28.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Montana State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Montana State Legislature was in session from January 7 to April 27.
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Thomas and his wife, Suzie, have three sons. He served one term as the president of the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents.[1]
See also
- Montana State Legislature
- Montana State Senate
- Montana Senate Committees
- Montana Joint Committees
- Montana state legislative districts
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Campaign website
- Profile from Open States
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions: 2012
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ravalli Republic, "Thomas announces candidacy for vacant state Senate seat," November 24, 2011. accessed October 10, 2012
- ↑ Missoulian, "Senate District 45: Fred Thomas, Republican," May 9, 2012. accessed October 10, 2012
- ↑ Western States Insurance Agency, "Fred Thomas, CIC," accessed October 10, 2012
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Legislative General Election Canvass," accessed December 21, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed March 24, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 primary election - June 7, 2016," accessed June 7, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Filing List: Legislative," accessed March 24, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2016 primary election - June 7, 2016," accessed June 7, 2016
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2012 Legislative General Election Canvass," accessed February 13, 2014
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2012 Legislative Primary Election Canvass," accessed February 13, 2014
- ↑ fredformontana.com, "Issues," accessed March 8, 2014
- ↑ Montana Contractors' Association, "Stronger Together: Political Representation," accessed November 5, 2015
- ↑ Montana Weed Control Association, "2013 Legislative Report & Scorecard," accessed September 17, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jim Shockley (R) |
Montana State Senate District 44 2013–2021 |
Succeeded by Theresa Manzella (R) |
