Meet Tom
Tom and Jenell Leonard live in DeWitt, Michigan with their three young children Hannah, Thomas, and Daniel. Born and raised in Michigan, Tom takes his commitment to making Michigan a better place to live and raise a family very seriously. He was born in Montrose, Michigan to a dad who served on the line in Buick City and a mom who would become a small business owner.
Family First
Tom graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and was also the President of his fraternity. He earned his Juris Doctorate degree from Michigan State University law school, but his greatest achievement during that time was being nominated and receiving the Ralph M Freeman Scholarship award which was given to the student who most exemplifies the Rules of Professional Conduct by treating others with courtesy and respect. The kicker? He was nominated for the award by a fellow student who was on the polar opposite political spectrum.
Tom’s legal career started as a clerk in Genesee County and then as an assistant prosecutor from 2007-2010. As a clerk, he worked alongside Judge Jennie Barkey who started the first Mental Health Court in the State. This work and the impact it made on the lives of our most vulnerable citizens is why mental health has been a core priority in every position Tom has held.
Prosecutor in Flint, Michigan
As a prosecutor, Tom was assigned to the county’s elite “special crimes unit,” and worked closely with the county’s undercover drug team.
State Representative & Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives
In November 2012 , Tom was elected as a State Representative representing Clinton and Gratiot Counties. In his third and final term, Tom’s colleagues unanimously selected him to serve as Speaker of the House.
Some of Tom’s major legislative achievements included reforms to “Kevin’s Law” to help families get assistance for loved ones facing a mental health crisis, eliminating driver’s responsibility fees, delivering tax relief, and reforming Michigan’s broken teacher pension system.
He also focused on government transparency and unanimously passed FOIA expansion through the House. Tom was the first legislative leader in our state’s history to pass legislation making Michigan a Constitutional Carry state, and legislation making English the official language. In September of 2013, Tom was honored to be selected as one of the American Conservative Union’s (ACU) “10 under 40” rising conservative leaders from across the country.
President Trump’s United States Attorney Nominee in 2019
Following his tenure as Speaker of the House, President Donald J. Trump nominated Tom to serve as his United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan. Despite 10 months of vetting through the White House, Department of Justice, and FBI, Tom’s nomination was blocked by Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters.
Partner and Shareholder at Plunkett Cooney law firm
Tom has been a partner and shareholder at Plunkett Cooney Law Firm since 2020 where he serves as the leader of the firm’s government relations, public policy, and regulatory compliance practice group.
Some of Tom’s signature achievements in this role have included keeping numerous clients’ doors open during the disastrous COVID shutdowns, helping stop bills that would have implemented New York style bail reform, fighting to protect the rights of the state’s homeschool students, protecting Second Amendment rights, and working with legislators to cut through red tape to bring a revolutionary cancer treatment to our state.
Every dollar brings us one step closer to putting Michigan back in the hands of working people by electing Tom to Governor.
