John Thomas was elected on November 7, 2006, by the city at large to serve on the Melbourne City Council as the representative for District 4. His current City Council term will continue to November of 2010. He has been appointed by the City Council to serve on the Airport Authority that governs operations of the Melbourne International Airport, and has served a one-year term as Council Member. District Four covers an area that begins north of the Melbourne International Airport and extends south to Palm Bay Road. Babcock Street serves as the district's primary border to the east and the city of West Melbourne is the district's primary border to the west.  Link to Map of Districts. Council Member Thomas initiated and currently chairs the Space Coast League of Cities Energy Efficiency Action Coalition and was appointed to the Florida League of Cities Energy & Environmental Quality Committee. Council Member Thomas was born on July 16, 1964, in Daytona Beach and has been a life-long resident of the Melbourne area.  He graduated from Melbourne High School in 1982 and attended Brevard Community College.

Council Member Thomas began a career in law enforcement when he graduated as a Brevard County Law Enforcement Academy class leader in 1985 and joined the Melbourne Police Department.  As a narcotics detective, Council Member Thomas attended the U.S. Department of Justice - Drug Enforcement Administration's Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Law Enforcement School.  There he was the recipient of the Scholastic Achievement Award for being the school's top student.  He also received specialized schooling by the U.S. Customs Service, Secret Service, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

During his law enforcement career, Council Member Thomas began working with at-risk children.  Serving as Executive Director of the Greater Melbourne Police Athletic League, Inc., and then as President, he expanded the organization to help children from across south Brevard County. During his tenure with the Greater Melbourne P.A.L., Council Member Thomas was also elected to serve as Regional Director for the state of Florida Association of Police Athletic Leagues.

In 2000, following a 14-year law enforcement career, Council Member Thomas retired from the Melbourne Police Department to begin a career in education.  He participated in the development of a new high school to Brevard County, Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy.  Serving as Head Football Coach and Director of College Athletic Recruiting, he led his teams to two District Championships and five playoff appearances in the school's first seven varsity seasons.  He was selected as the Florida Athletic Coaches Association District Coach of the Year in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004.  He coached student-athletes who went on to play for schools including the University of Notre Dame, Harvard, Princeton, Penn, Columbia, and the Air Force Academy. 

In May of 2008 Council Member Thomas left high school coaching and moved to the collegiate level as Director of Athletic Partnerships for Florida Tech, where he is currently employed. 

Personal: Council Member Thomas and wife Debbie have three children, Josh, Matthew, and Danielle.  The Thomas Family also includes a cat and dog, Kali and Max.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Melbourne Home Page - About Melbourne