Tom King was first elected to the Walnut City Council in 2002 and served as Mayor from July 2005 to September 2006. He served on the Parks and Recreation Commission from 1993-1999. From 1999 to 2002 he served on the Planning Commission. He chaired both Commissions prior to his election to the City Council.

Council Member King was born in Los Angeles and has spent most of his life involved in community service. He is a lifelong resident of the San Gabriel Valley. He is a proud military veteran and former non-commissioned officer in the United States Army Third Infantry Division. He recently completed a 30-year career with the Los Angeles Police Department as an expert and supervisor in bombings and arson-related homicides. He is also a licensed California Private Investigator. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from California State University at Los Angeles in the same graduating class as his spouse who majored in Speech Pathology. While a college student he was a volunteer at Hammel Street Elementary School in East Los Angeles in the Head Start Program. He also volunteered at Maclaren Hall assisting juvenile dependants of the Superior Court.

A former co-chair of the Los Angeles County Network on Hate Crimes, Council Member King has been recognized by the Governor, Attorney General, and the United States Department of Justice for his commitment to eradicating crimes committed by extremist groups. He was a member of the L.A. Police Commission Task Force on Hate Crimes, and he has long worked with many diverse groups in the community.

After retiring from law enforcement, Council Member King taught Forensic Science and Criminal Justice at Bassett High School in La Puente. He also was campus director of a career college with campuses in Anaheim and Colton.

Council Member King served on the Public Safety Committee of the League of California Cities. He serves as the City representative on the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, and as a Alternate Director of the Los Angeles County Sanitation District. He is the City representative to the League of California Cities, and has also served with the California Contract Cities Association.

Council Member King formerly served as the Director of Operations of the Walnut Medical and Humanitarian Mission organizing monthly physician visits to Tecate, Mexico. He also served as logistical chair of the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. He is a current volunteer member of the La Puente Valley Meals on Wheels Program and serves as Vce President of the Board of Directors. 

Council Member King has been married for 32 years to his wife Marjorie, now an educator. They have three children. His son Chris, an engineer for the Boeing Corporation, graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of California at Irvine and is a graduate student at the University of Southern California. Laura, his daughter, is a manager for Wells Fargo Bank. She graduated from the University of California at Riverside. Council Member King’s daughter Anne graduated Summa Cum Laude from Loyola Marymount University and is in marketing with Starwood Hotels.

Council Member King is involved with his family and his community. He serves as a regular volunteer to help those in need, and he is committed to helping preserve our environment and looking out for the needs of our youth and our seniors.