About Tom Harris
Tom is a Uniquely Qualified Conservative for Allen County Commissioner
Tom's Goals:
- Limited government as the County continues to grow
- Strategically increasing jobs and affordable housing in Allen County
- Fiscally conservative budget management
- Support the Sheriff’s fight on crime
- Enhancing quality of life initiatives in Allen County
- Tom's goal as Commissioner is to make the Allen County Government work more efficiently, with the least amount of interferance by elected officials, to become a great place to work and live.
Leadership
Tom is a dedicated leader whose beliefs and values guide his approach to public service. Grounded in his Christian faith, he upholds the principles of Jesus Christ in his life, alongside his strong Republican convictions centered on Faith, Family, Freedoms, and Life as core American ideals.
Tom advocates for efficient and limited government, drawing inspiration from Milton Friedman's principles, believing that less government interference preserves individual freedoms. With a background as a business owner, he champions capitalism as a means to uplift people across all socioeconomic levels. Currently serving as a County Councilman, Tom emphasizes the importance of fostering effective relationships with citizens, elected officials, and department heads to serve the people of Allen County diligently.
With 39 years of marriage, three successful adult children, and soon-to-be two granddaughters, he is committed to cultivating Allen County, Indiana, as a thriving and secure community for families and businesses alike.
Unique Qualifications:
- Based on Tom's Experience and Leadership, he is uniquely qualified for the postion of Commissioner.
- He not only has served as an elected official for 14 years, he has worked for the County as the HR Director. This experience gives him an indepth understanding of Departments, Elected Officials and overall functionns of Allen County government. In his role in City government, he worked with Unions negotiating contracts, employee conflicts, and training programs.
- He has over 36 years experience working in human resource departments for companies of all sizes and all areas of the job from hiring, compensation packages, and conflict management. Allen County's budget is made up of over 80% employment related costs, which these responsibilities fall upon the Commissioners and Council to review and approve. Since Tom has worked in the roles of HR Director in many companies include the Allen County HR department and served 14 years as a County Councilman, he has the unique qualifications to jump into this position on day-one!
- Tom has also worked with all the Allen County Departments in the capacity of HR Director and as a Councilman, which again gives him the advantage of knowing the operations of each department, understanding the needs of the department staff, and a working relationship with them.
Results Leading to a Better Allen County Community
With over 14 years of success, here are just a few notable results:
Tom's steadfast leadership has yielded remarkable results, significantly enhancing the Allen County community during his 14 years of service. Notably, he initiated the recent County Council vote for $5 million in Federal ARPA funds, directing crucial assistance to Grabill, Woodburn, and New Haven for vital infrastructure enhancements. Tom's support for the Regional City initiative led to the New Allen Alliance winning the prestigious Stellar Communities Award, securing $4.5 million for the region. Through his decisive votes and advocacy, numerous home and business development projects have been approved, resulting in the creation of thousands of new homes and jobs across Huntertown, New Haven, Grabill, and Woodburn.
Tom's proactive approach includes securing funding for Harlan street lights from County funds and playing pivotal roles in the expansions of the General Motors plant, attracting over $1 billion in investments. He also championed the creation of the Cook Road Allen County Community Corrections facility, introducing alternative sentencing options that effectively reduced the Allen County Jail population. Additionally, Tom facilitated the opening of the Maplecrest Road Bridge into New Haven and supported initiatives for Parkview Regional Medical Center, strategic vehicle procurement for the Sheriff’s Department, and a cost-saving truck purchase program for the Allen County Highway Department.
Throughout his tenure, Tom has maintained an exceptional attendance record in Council meetings, underscoring his unwavering commitment to serving Allen County and driving impactful positive change.
Allen County Successes
- Fastest growing metro area in Great Lakes Region with 4 years fo Population Growth
- In 2021 over 2600 new jobs - A record!
- Seven consecutive years exceeding $1 billion of investment - A Record!
- In recent years the best financial position of the County in over 40 years and arguably 200 years of our existence
- New Allen Alliance - $4.5 million Stellar Award Winner
- Recognized #1 Affordable Place to Live
- Recognized #2 Hottest Housing Market
- Recognized #1 Place to Raise a Family
