Thomas Leeman Jr.

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Thomas Leeman Jr.

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Personal

Birthplace

Port Hueneme, Calif.

Religion

Catholic

Profession

Finance

Contact

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Thomas Leeman Jr. ran for election for Mayor of Norfolk in Virginia. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Leeman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Thomas Leeman Jr. was born in Port Hueneme, California. His career experience includes work in finance, electrical work, and firefighting.

Leeman has been affiliated with the following organizations:

• ForKids, Inc
• Sacred Hearth Church Financial Council
• Downtown Norfolk Council
• High School Baseball Coach
• District 8 Little League Administrator

Elections

2024

See also: Mayoral election in Norfolk, Virginia (2024)

General election

General election for Mayor of Norfolk

Incumbent Kenny Alexander defeated Thomas Leeman Jr. and Giovanni Dolmo in the general election for Mayor of Norfolk on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kenny Alexander (Nonpartisan)	59.3	48,568
		Thomas Leeman Jr. (Nonpartisan)	33.4	27,404
	Submit photo	Giovanni Dolmo (Nonpartisan)	6.6	5,431
		Other/Write-in votes	0.7	551

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 81,954
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Leeman in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Thomas Leeman Jr. completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Leeman's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m a native resident of Norfolk, an engaged and energetic community leader. I’m the past chair of the Downtown Norfolk Council, where I championed numerous initiatives to enhance the diversity, vibrancy, and safety of Norfolk. I’m currently the Foundation Chair of ForKids, a grassroots organization to helps homeless families. I’m running for Mayor to bring innovative solutions to problems currently being ignored, fresh perspectives to challenging issues, and a collaborative spirit back to our city. I will be focused on transparency and direct action for our City. I will be accountable, available, and active. I’m using my voice for a change, and I need you vote to make it count.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Education is the backbone of every community and city. I will work to ensure our children receive the best education and have the safest learning environment possible. This is a combined effort of everyone and we have to stop ignoring it.
• Economic Growth is made possible when you have businesses wanting to make Norfolk your home because of education. I will prioritize attracting and expanding business investments in Norfolk. We can rely solely on taxes and grants. I will ensure development benefits the entire community, while preserving Norfolk’s unique identity and opposing unchecked development that could harm neighborhoods or displace residents.
• Public safety means keeping our community safe by supporting law enforcement with the necessary personnel, equipment, facilities, and training. Fostering partnerships with neighborhoods, city departments, other city partners, and state government to enhance public safety. This comes from collaboration and being that city leader who prioritizes our residents first.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Too often, people run for office but fail to genuinely serve. I will be a cheerleader for our city, ensuring that that we spend money efficiently and effectively. I will work collaboratively with our City Manager and City Council, not against them, to restore confidence in our leadership. I promise to lead with an agenda and benefits all of Norfolk, being an active, and engaged Mayor who works tirelessly for the betterment of our city.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Elected officials are there to serve the entire community. Integrity, transparency, accessibility, and proactivity is the culture that I will bring to city leadership.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I’m a team builder, a collaborator, and able to think outside the system. The status quo never moves you forward. My experience as a small business owner, teacher, firefighter, and now a partner for a successful financial firm shows my ability to work together in different environments. I will work tirelessly for the betterment of our city.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I delivered newspapers for 3 years and learned the values of dependability, managing expenses, and collecting revenue every 2 weeks from those customers to pay for my rubber bands, plastic bags, and the actual papers themselves so that I would have income to pay for the things a 13 year old wanted. Ice cream, video games, and comic books!

If the mayor in your city is a member of the city council and there's a city manager appointed to handle the day-to-day administration of the city government, what do you believe should be the mayor's top priority in office?

Working collaboratively with the City Manager and City Council, not against them, to move forward together and unlock our City’s full potential.

What do you love most about your city?

The diversity of our City and the water. Together they bring energy and vibrancy that can’t be matched.

What do you perceive to be your city's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Sea Level Rise - Being surrounded by water is amazing and challenging. We need to always be working on how to let Mother Nature.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the mayor's office and law enforcement?

We must work together to ensure a safe environment or all residents while balancing public safety with the protection of civil liberties. Open communication is a necessity and transparency.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Mayor of Norfolk

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