Meet Tim Thomas

Tim brings decades of labor leadership, civic engagement, and equity-driven public service to his role as Oak Park Township Supervisor. Raised in a working-class, union household in Indianapolis, Thomas began his career at Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant, where he worked as a Continuous Improvement Coordinator and Production Team Leader before becoming an appointed official with UAW Local 551.

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He later held significant leadership roles within the labor movement, including serving as Secretary/Treasurer of SEIU Local 4, Vice President of SEIU Healthcare Illinois & Indiana, and Assistant Director at the International UAW. His academic background in automotive mechanics technology and automotive management are the foundation of his career in manufacturing and union advocacy.

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Beyond labor, Tim has been deeply involved in civic and community service across the Chicago area. He has served on various boards and committees, such as the Oak Park Township Youth Services Committee, the Liquor Control Review Board, and the Environment & Energy Commission. He also contributed at the state level on the Illinois Department on Aging’s Older Adult Services Advisory Committee and served in leadership roles within the Township Officials of Cook County and the Metropolitan Township Association.

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His advocacy extends into civil rights and community organizing, including leadership roles with the NAACP (as Labor & Industry Committee co-chair), Americans for Democratic Action, the A. Philip Randolph Institute, Chicago Democratic Socialists of America, and the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists.

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As a public servant, Tim emphasizes service and visionary leadership that is grounded in community engagement. He is a champion of participatory budgeting, which ensuring that residents have a voice in how township funds are allocated, and works to make services accessible to underserved communities. His priorities as Supervisor have included COVID-19 recovery, senior and mental health services, and responsible fiscal management.​ Through out his  career which bridges labor advocacy, public policy, and local governance, Tim Thomas exemplifies equity-focused, community-centered leadership.