(Photo courtesy Claudia Thomas)
SANFORD, Fla. | Claudia Thomas became Sanford’s District 4 City Commissioner Nov. 5, making her the city’s first openly LGBTQ+ official elected to the position.
Thomas defeated her challenger, Tara Waisanen, winning her commission seat 52.88%-47.12%.
Thomas comes into the role of Sanford’s District 4 City Commissioner as a first-time elected official but she isn’t new to politics.
“I spent 44 years in Brevard County and I had been asked to run for office quite a few times,” Thomas says. “But I did a lot of campaigning for a lot of great candidates when I was in Brevard and at that time I just felt like I could do more good behind the scenes.”
Thomas moved to Sanford nearly four years ago with her wife and their two dogs, who she lovingly refers to as her kids, after many decades in Brevard County where she retired from Lockhead Martin. During her time in Central Florida, she has been an active member in the community, including volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, participating in local golf events and even showing off her skills as a jazz guitarist with performances at Theater West End.
“We love Sanford,” she says. “They say it’s a small town with big city vibes, there’s more to do here than there was in Brevard but it’s not as busy as Orlando. Plus, here I feel like I can really make a difference.”
Thomas says that now felt like the right time to step out from a behind-the-scenes role in politics and run for office, starting locally in her city.
“I’m not trying to bite off more than I can chew, but I thought maybe this would be a good foot in the door to see if I can make a difference,” she says.
Thomas adds that when she decided to run for city commissioner, she knew that she wasn’t going to hide who she is and who she loves just to get votes.
“I didn’t campaign saying I want you to vote for me because I’m queer, I ran wanting you to vote for me because I will help address the issues within the city of Sanford,” she says. “But I was authentic in that it was never anything I hid. It was not vote for me because of this, this is a part of who I am and there is a lot to who I am and running on that message I never had any pushback.”
Authenticity was one of the three pillars Thomas ran on in her campaign, calling herself a “Triple A candidate.”
“I am an advocate, I’m accountable and I am authentic,” she states. “My messaging during my campaign was I get things done, I have experience and I work for everyone, and to work for everyone really means I am not owned by anybody. Nobody’s trying to buy me, I will represent everyone.”
Thomas will be sworn in the Commission Chambers at Sanford City Hall on Dec. 9, and once sworn in she is ready to start working on the issues she raised during her campaign, including addressing water quality, public safety and smart growth in her district. She is also eager to get to work helping revitalize the Seminole Town Center Mall, which — like many shopping centers across the country — has become what she called a “zombie mall.”
“I moved here just a few years ago so I come here as a fresh face and a fresh voice that isn’t someone who knows all the good old boys, knows how things used to be,” she says. “I’m ready for the people who are going to tell me ‘this is the way we used to do business here,’ well perhaps not anymore, if it’s not the ethical way to do it. Times are changing and maybe they are ready to change even more.”
