Thomas Hayden (Texas politician)
| Thomas Edward "Tom" Hayden | |
 | |
| In office 2012–2018 | |
| Preceded by | Melissa Northern |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | Steve Dixon |
| Born | March 13, 1967 Lexington, Kentucky |
| Spouse(s) | Karen Yvonne Clements Hayden |
| Children | Three children |
| Residence | Flower Mound, Texas |
| Alma mater | Sayre School Marshall University |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Religion | Christian |
Thomas Edward Hayden, known as Tom Hayden (born March 13, 1967), is the former mayor of suburban Flower Mound, Texas,[1] a community of some 65,000 located in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. In 2014, he attracted national scrutiny when he declared "The Year of the Bible" in Flower Mound.[2]
Background
Hayden graduated from the college preparatory Sayre Schoo] in his native Lexington, Kentucky. He then studied at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, where he was the student body president and a member of the West Virginia Board of Trustees. He is employed in the financial services industry. He is vice president of Investment Strategy for Liberty Bankers Life.[3]
His father, Thomas Lee Hayden (born 1932), is a former mathematics professor at the University of Kentucky at Lexington, who is retired in Lewisville, Texas. His mother is Mary C. Hayden (born 1936).[4] Hayden's great-grandfather drove cattle on the old trails in Texas and purchased a ranch in 1890 near Moran in Shackelford County, Texas, which remains in the Hayden family. Hayden's grandfather was an attorney, district attorney, and the mayor of Abilene, Texas, during the 1930s and 1940s.[5]
Political life
On December 16, 2013, at a regular city council meeting, Mayor Hayden declared 2014 the "Year of the Bible" in his city. The proclamation is not an order on behalf of the municipal government but action taken specifically by the mayor to encourage constituents to read the Bible.[6] Hayden also promoted a website of the Calvary Chapel Church in Flower Mound.[7] Hayden said the issue should not focus upon him but on Scripture: "Everyone's personal relationship with God is a personal decision [and] may differ with mine. If I can, I would like to encourage people to read the Bible."[6] Hayden traced the biblical roots of the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Emancipation Proclamation. He also stressed the moral fiber of the Founding Fathers.[2]
The proclamation drew both support and opposition from constituents. Jewish Rabbi Geoffrey Dennis of the Congregation Kol Ami, who is also an adjunct professor at the University of North Texas in Denton. said that more than a year earlier he had advised Hayden not to issue the proclamation: "He thinks this is about him and his opportunity to promote his faith in his role as mayor. But I think he needs to realize that I and the other people who voted him to office voted him in as mayor, not as Bishop of Flower Mound."[6]
On May 11, 2013, Hayden declared "Falun Dafa Day," a self-improvement practice rooted in ancient Chinese culture that emphasizes truth, compassion, forbearance, and meditation.[8]
In 2012, Hayden unseated Mayor Melissa Northern, his former political ally.[9]
On May 10, 2014, Hayden was reelected to a second two-year term. The position is nonpartisan and part-time. On the first Saturday of every month from 8 to 10 a.m., Mayor Hayden hosts a town meeting in different neighborhoods of his city.[10] Prior to becoming mayor, Hayden had been a member of the Flower Mound City Council.
References
- ↑ Thomas Hayden (E). Mylife.com. Retrieved on February 19, 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Eric Nicholson (January 2, 2014). The Mayor of Flower Mound Has Declared 2014 the "Year of the Bible". The Dallas Observer. Retrieved on February 19, 2021.
- ↑ Senior Management Team. Liberty Bankers Life (2015). Retrieved on February 2, 2015; material no longer on-line.
- ↑ Thomas Hayden (Lee). Mylife.com. Retrieved on February 19, 2021.
- ↑ Hayden biography. Facebook. Retrieved on July 28, 2014; material no longer accessible on-line.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Russell Flower Mound Mayor Declares 2014 "Year of the Bible". NBC (Channel 5 in Dallas-Fort Worth) (January 3, 2014). Retrieved on February 10, 2021.
- ↑ To Know the Love of Christ. calvarychapelflowermound.org. Retrieved on February 19, 2021; material may no longer be accessible on-line.
- ↑ Office of the Mayor: Proclamation. minghui.org. Retrieved on February 19, 2021.
- ↑ Wendy Hundley (May 13, 2012). Lewisville council incumbents lead; Flower Mound mayor likely to face upset. The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved on February 3, 2014; material no longer on-line.
- ↑ Flower Mound, Texas. flower-mound.com. Retrieved on February 19, 2021.
