Mary Thomas is a strong, conservative Republican, a mom, an attorney, and a first-generation American.
Mary was born in Charleston, South Carolina, to immigrant parents who arrived in America from India in 1972 with their educations and the hope of living the American dream. The Thomas family eventually settled in Pinellas County, where they started a successful small business. Mary’s parents instilled in her the conservative ideals of the importance of family, hard work, self-sufficiency, and the value of education.
Mary is a graduate of the Florida State University College of Law. She also holds a Masters of Law from the University of Miami and a Bachelors degree from the University of South Florida.
Mary has lived in Tallahassee for over a decade. She has been a member of Governor Rick Scott’s Administration since he was sworn into office in January 2011. Mary currently serves as the General Counsel at the Department of Elder Affairs where she manages and oversees the legal department of an agency that administers a $900 million budget.
During her time in the Scott Administration, Mary has worked closely on issues that directly impact the citizens, businesses, military installations, and environment of the Second Congressional District. Her experience includes: serving as the Governor’s representative in negotiations regarding the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill; developing strategies to protect the Apalachicola Bay from Georgia’s unchecked consumption of water, strategies that ultimately resulted in the filing of a lawsuit against Georgia in the U.S. Supreme Court; and helping to solve military base encroachment issues around the Panhandle’s military installations.
As a member of the Gulf Winds Track and Triathlon Clubs, Mary has participated in over 50 road races and triathlons in locations across the Second District. During one of these races that was held in Mexico Beach, Mary’s husband, John, proposed to her.
Their son Luke was born at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. Mary and her family attend the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Tallahassee.