Biography

Tom King was first elected to the Walnut City Council in 2002 and served twice as Mayor from July 2005 to September 2006. He was reappointed Mayor by the City Council on November 25th, 2009 for the third time.  From 1999 to 2002 he served on the Planning Commission. He served on the Parks and Recreation Commission from 1993-1999. He chaired both Commissions prior to his election to the City Council.

Tom 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 completed a 30-year career with the Los Angeles Police Department in 2004 as an expert and supervisor in bombings and arson-related homicides. He is also a currently 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, he 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 founding 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, Tom 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.

Tom King serves on the Public Safety Committee of the statewide League of California Cities. He is the City representative to the League of California Cities, and has also served with the California Contract Cities Association  He serves as the City representative on the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments and sits on the executive board as the current SGVCOG President. 

He is an alternate director representative of the Los Angeles County Sanitation District.  He was selected by the mayors of Los Angeles County to serve on the County Library Commission.  He also serves on the Transportation Committee of the Southern California Association of Governments and as a City representative to Foothill Transit.

Tom King serves on the Governing Board of the Alameda Coridor East Construction Authority.  This 1.4 Billion dollar project is improving 39 grade separations in the San Gabriel Valley.  The remaining ten grade separations are partially funded by 2006 State Transportation Bonds ($336 million) and Los Angeles County Metro Measure R funds ($400 million).

He 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 Vice President of the Board of Directors.  He also serves on the United States Army Community Advisory Board to assist in the recruitment of qualified soldiers from Los Angeles County to serve in our Army. 

Tom King has been married for 35 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 graduated with a MS 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, in only three years, from Loyola Marymount University and is a sales manager with the St. Regis Hotel, Monarch Beach.

Tom 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.