Thomas Leeman, Jr. is a candidate for Norfolk Mayor. His name will appear on the ballot on November 5, 2024.
Leeman is running against incumbent Kenneth Alexander and Giovanni Dolmo for Norfolk Mayor.
WAVY News 10’s Brett Hall reached out to the Norfolk mayoral candidates for an in-depth interview ahead of Election Day. Click on the video above to view his full interview with Leeman.
The first day of in-person early voting at your local registrar’s office for this election is Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. Click here to see who is on your ballot.
10 On Your Side reached out to all of the candidates running in this race, with a request for a bio and a list of questions to answer. If you do not see the candidate listed with a profile, we did not receive one.
Biography: Tommy is a proud, lifelong resident of Norfolk, moving here as an infant from Naval Base Ventura County, California, where his Navy Seabee father was stationed. Raised in the vibrant Ocean View community, his parents divorced when he was young. His father continued his service to our country and was regularly transferred, while he and his mom remained in Ocean View. Tommy’s early years were shaped by his mother’s resilience and hard work, both at Dominion Energy and at home, and his father’s dedication to service.
Tommy attended Norfolk Public Schools where he wrestled, played baseball and soccer at Granby High School. The most significant high school experience occurred when he took
advantage of NPS’ Vocational Technical Training Program where discovered his passion for the electrical trade. He completed the two-year program in just over one —the first to do so in the program’s history. After which his teachers encouraged him to gain practical experience shadowing at the school with the Maintenance Department. His success in the VoTech program led directly to his first post-high school job at All-Weather Electric.
Tommy had ambition. When an apprenticeship spot opened to become a journeyman electrician through the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW, Local 80), he jumped at the chance. Graduating at the top of the class, his commitment to his craft led him back to the VoTech School, where he taught students only slightly younger than himself, and built his small electrical business, becoming one of Norfolk’s youngest Master Electricians.
Around this time, Tommy met and married his partner of over 27 years, Margaret (Meg) Gallatin. They decided to raise their family in their hometown, joyfully welcoming their first son in 2000 and their second in 2002. After moving from their first home in Colonial Place to a fixer-upper in Ghent, Meg and Tommy have spent over 20 years working to restore their historic home. Their sons, Boyd and Miller, graduated with honors from the same Norfolk Public Schools their parents attended.
Professionally, while his family was growing, Tommy also grew his career by opening Leeman Electric, a small business that eventually merged to become L & L Electric and was ultimately sold in 1999. He was a Volunteer Fireman for almost 10 years, which left him with a profound respect and understanding of our First Responder community.
After many years of leading and growing his small business, Tommy was encouraged to change careers and join the financial investment firm, A.G. Edwards, to pursue a new career track as
a personal financial advisor. Taking a big leap of faith, with Meg’s support, Tommy hung up his electrical wire cutters and joined A.G. Edwards in 1999. In 2005, Tommy was the recipient of the Top 40 Under 40 from Inside Business. Since 2020, Tommy has been a partner at Steward Partners, demonstrating persistence, honesty, an unfailing work ethic, and an ability to connect with people to make them feel secure. In addition to raising his family and growing his business
locally, Tommy has always felt a deep connection to his hometown and community. His activism is evident through his extensive involvement in local non-profit organizations and community groups, starting with coaching his sons at Fleet Park Little League and continuing through volunteering at the varsity level with Granby High School, his alma mater.
Tommy and Meg are very active in their church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ghent. Tommy has served as a Parish Financial Council member for several years, sponsored candidates for Confirmation, volunteered as an electrician, worked in the soup kitchen, and helped extensively with the Norfolk Emergency Shelter Team (NEST), a church-led program to shelter the homeless during critical months.
He supports Norfolk’s effort to thrive and grow through his mentorship of young business leaders to the Downtown 100. In 2015, he was elected to the Downtown Norfolk Council and
served as the Board Chair and an Ambassador to Downtown Norfolk during major events. For almost two decades, Tommy has supported ForKids, a grassroots organization dedicated to
ending the cycle of homelessness and poverty in Hampton Roads. ForKids has seen tremendous growth and success, partly due to leaders like Tommy, who continue to champion this cause. He currently serves as the Foundation Chair at ForKids. Tommy Leeman is not just a candidate; he is an enthusiastic and involved member of his community and an advocate for positive change. He is a proven leader who will work tirelessly to make impactful outcomes in our local government and grow our city —one that thrives on diversity, collaboration, and progress. With his experience, vision, and dedication, Tommy is ready to lead our city into a bright and prosperous future.
Tommy Leeman is a dynamic and resolute community leader who is passionate about making our city a better place for everyone. With a proven history of effective leadership, Tommy is running for mayor to bring fresh perspectives, innovative solutions, and a collaborative spirit to our city government.
Why are you running for this office?
When leaders don’t listen, our city loses. Without consistent direction and management, Norfolk stalls. Without a strong vision and plan, we lag behind. I am running for mayor because Norfolk needs a leader who takes responsibility and puts the city’s needs above personal career advancement. My top priority is to be accessible and accountable to the people of Norfolk. I will work to unite the city council, school board, and Norfolk delegates, ensuring we all speak with one voice, working toward one goal: making Norfolk the gem of the seven cities and a place people are proud to call home.
What is the top challenge facing Norfolk, and how would you address it?
Norfolk’s greatest challenge is a lack of leadership that listens. Without proper guidance, planning, and accountability, our city cannot progress. The stalled city-backed projects like Military Circle and MacArthur Mall, and a casino project that continues to befuddle our citizens are clear examples of this. Norfolk Economic Development has publicly admitted that the current mayor’s plans have no proposals or bids—they’re just pictures. Meanwhile, Norfolk is home to critical business organizations like Black Brand Business Association, and Downtown Norfolk Council. These organizations should be playing a more meaningful role in shaping informed business decisions. My approach would bring professional, informed business leadership back to the forefront while empowering local entrepreneurs to offer creative solutions. We need to move forward with care and precision, ensuring that both large-scale developments and neighborhood businesses are thriving.
What is your view on addressing the affordable housing crisis?
Solving the affordable housing crisis is critical to Norfolk’s future. We are facing a shortage of affordable rental units, especially for households making less than $35,000 a year. I believe we must support affordable housing options and consider tax incentives for public safety, public school, and public works employees. When people live in the city they work in they care more, and Norfolk deserves to be a place where its workers can afford to live.
What is your view on transparency, and how do you feel the city can improve, if at all?
Transparency is key to restoring trust in our city’s leadership. Norfolk needs a mayor and leaders who are accessible and accountable, which is why I will make it a priority to ensure open lines of communication between the mayor’s office, city council, and the community. Transparency requires consistent updates on city decisions, developments, and budgets, ensuring that the people of Norfolk are always informed and able to hold their leaders accountable.
Do you believe the city focuses too much of its efforts downtown at the expense of other areas in the city?
Yes, Norfolk’s business decisions often focus heavily on downtown, neglecting the needs of neighborhoods and smaller businesses. While downtown development is important, we must balance that with ensuring that economic growth is happening throughout the city. Local entrepreneurs and small business owners play a vital role in our economy, and we cannot afford to hamstring their growth by focusing solely on big downtown projects.
What is your view on taking money from individuals who will likely have business before the city?
It’s essential for our city’s leadership to maintain integrity and avoid conflicts of interest. Taking money from individuals or entities that will have business before the city can lead to decisions that benefit a few at the expense of the broader community. I believe Norfolk needs a mayor who will always put the best interests of the city first, ensuring that decisions are made based on the needs of the people, not influenced by campaign contributions.
Norfolk has long been accused of having a shadow government, in which decisions are made by influential business leaders who support certain elected officials. Is this a fair criticism?
There is a perception that certain influential business leaders hold too much sway over city decisions, and that criticism is not unfounded. Some would say that Norfolk’s “Shadow Government” is its worst kept secret. Norfolk deserves leadership that is accountable to all its citizens, not just a select few. Additionally, the presence of organizations like the Chamber of Commerce and Retail Alliance, should serve the broader interests of the city, not a select group of powerful individuals. I am not a part of this “Shadow Government”, and I plan to move Norfolk into the open light. I will work to ensure that all decisions are made openly and in the best interests of the entire community, with a focus on accessibility and accountability to the people.