Bruce Thompson (Georgia politician)
Bruce Thompson | |
|---|---|
| Labor Commissioner of Georgia | |
| In office January 12, 2023 – November 24, 2024 | |
| Governor | Brian Kemp |
| Preceded by | Mark Butler |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Member of the Georgia State Senate from the 14th district | |
| In office December 12, 2013 – January 9, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Barry Loudermilk |
| Succeeded by | Josh McLaurin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Bruce Anthony Thompson February 9, 1965 Big Sandy, Montana, U.S. |
| Died | November 24, 2024 (aged 59) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Becky |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Montana State University–Northern (AA) Reinhardt University (BBA) |
| Website | Campaign website |
Bruce Anthony Thompson (February 9, 1965 – November 24, 2024) was an American politician from the state of Georgia. He was a member of the Republican Party and represented the 14th district in the Georgia State Senate from 2013 to 2023. From 2023 until his death, he served as Georgia Labor Commissioner.
Early life and career
[edit]Thompson graduated Big Sandy High School in Big Sandy, Montana, in 1983. He attended Montana State University–Northern on a scholarship for wrestling and earned his associate's degree in 1985. He graduated from Reinhardt University with a bachelor in business administration in 2021.[1]
Thompson served in the Montana Army National Guard for four years in tanks.[2][3] He worked as an insurance agent, as owner of an Allstate firm. Thompson chaired the Cartersville-Bartow Chamber of Commerce and served as chairman of Personnel at Cartersville First Baptist Church.[2]
Political career
[edit]Thompson ran as a Republican in the 2013 special election to the Georgia Senate for District 14 to fill the remainder of the term of Barry Loudermilk, who resigned to focus on his campaign for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. He defeated fellow Republican businessman Matt Laughridge in a runoff election.[4][5] In the Georgia Senate, Thompson became the chair of the economic development and tourism committee.[6]
In 2021, Mark Butler, the Georgia Labor Commissioner, announced that he would not run for reelection in the 2022 elections. Thompson announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination to succeed him[7] He won the Republican Party nomination, with Mike Coan, a former member of the Georgia House of Representatives, finishing in second place.[8] Thompson won the general election on November 8, defeating William Boddie, a Democratic Party member of the state house.[9] Thompson's office reported finding $105 million of unremitted state money which should have been turned over to the state treasury in August 2023.[10][11]
Personal life and death
[edit]Thompson lived in Cartersville, Georgia. He and his wife, Becky, had two children.[2]
In March 2024, Thompson announced that he had stage IV pancreatic cancer.[12] He died from the illness on November 24, 2024, at the age of 59.[13][14]
References
[edit]- ^ Joyner, Tammy (March 14, 2023). "Labor commissioner taking stock and making changes, aiming for better experience for Georgians".
- ^ a b c "State Sen. Bruce Thompson of Bartow Sworn Into Office". Georgia State Senate Press Office. December 15, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
- ^ "In and Around Town", The River Press, Fort Benton, Montana, volume CVI, number 35, June 25, 1986, page 9. (subscription required)
- ^ "Sen Thompson takes office after beating Laughridge in runoff". Cherokee Tribune. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
- ^ "Thompson, Prince, Efstration Win General Assembly Seats". Gpb.org. December 4, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
- ^ Johnson, Ethan (January 31, 2023). "Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson looking to 'lift the cloud' off labor department". Cherokee Tribune. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
- ^ "Georgia State Sen. Bruce Thompson enters race for labor commissioner". June 4, 2021.
- ^ Kanell, Michael E. "Thompson secures GOP nod, Dems head to runoff in labor commissioner race". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- ^ Kanell, Michael E. "Thompson wins race for Georgia Labor Commissioner", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, updated November 9, 2022.
- ^ Lowry, Donna (August 11, 2023). "Georgia labor commissioner slams his predecessor's handling of $105M in state money". Georgia Public Broadcasting.
- ^ Service, Capitol Beat News (August 14, 2023). "Audit finds more than $105M in unremitted funds at state labor department". The Augusta Press.
- ^ Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson says he has pancreatic cancer, at the Associated Press; published March 15, 2024; retrieved March 15, 2024
- ^ "It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson. Today, we mourn the loss of a fighter, a leader, and a true servant of the people". x.com. Georgia Department of Labor. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
- ^ "Georgia Commissioner of Labor Bruce Thompson dies at 59". Fox 5 Atlanta. November 24, 2024. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
External links
[edit]- 1965 births
- 2024 deaths
- 21st-century members of the Georgia General Assembly
- American businesspeople
- Deaths from pancreatic cancer in Georgia (U.S. state)
- Insurance agents
- Montana State University–Northern alumni
- Montana National Guard personnel
- People from Bartow County, Georgia
- Reinhardt University alumni
- Republican Party Georgia (U.S. state) state senators
- State labor commissioners in the United States
- United States Army soldiers