EXPERIENCED. DEDICATED. PROVEN.

Thom has spent most of his life serving Vermont and Barre City in some capacity.  He chaired the school board when Barre city moved past six obsolete schools and constructed its current state of the art learning center.  In 2006, Thom ran successfully for mayor.  During his twelve year tenure, Barre city grew the grand list, invested heavily in infrastructure and launched projects like the long stalled Main Street Reconstruction Project (the "Big Dig"), Barre City Place, Summer Street Apartments, the Pearl Street Pedestrian Access and Enterprise Alley.  Thom initiated Barre city's downtown Tax Increment Financing ("TIF") District, an infrastructure funding tool that has leveraged millions of dollars in downtown investment.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Phil Scott appointed Thom to the Governor's Economic Mitigation and Recovery Task Force, which was charged with providing technical assistance and expertise to mitigate the devastating short-term economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and develop strategies designed to speed long-term business and community recovery.  Governor Scott said of the Task Force " These individuals are willing to roll up their sleeves and lend their vast expertise and skill to increase the capacity of our state response as we take on the significant challenge of restarting our economy in the weeks and months ahead.”   Thom is incredibly proud of the Task Force's accomplishments and in his role in assisting Vermont's small businesses survive, recover and preserve jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The flooding event of July 10, 2023 has created incredible challenges for our city.  The loss of scores of housing units has exacerbated an already tight housing market.  Our tax base has been negatively affected.  Many of our neighbors have been displaced.  Too many are still struggling to recover.  Hundreds of thousands of dollars in property taxes have been abated.  Our sidewalk and paving funding isn't keeping up.  In just a few short months (June 30, 2024), Barre city will likely face a six figure operating deficit.  And while we're grateful for the state assistance we will received in order to balance our fiscal year 2024-2025 operating budget, it's unlikely that this level of assistance will be offered in fiscal year 2025 - 2026.  That means that Barre city will have to manage a seven figure ($1,000,000.00 +) operating deficit during the next budget cycle.  Left unchecked, these challenges will cripple our growth and affect our city for decades.  The simple truth is, recovering from this event will be difficult, take a lot of hard work and require leaders who are willing and able to advocate for Barre city at the highest level.  Experienced leadership will matter.

In spite of the challenges, Thom believes in Barre.  He always has.  With the right leadership and vision, Thom believes great things can happen.  With other community leaders, Thom serves on the board of directors of Prospect Heights Development, LLC.  Well before the 2023 flooding event, Thom was a supporter of and contributor to the project, which is a proposed mixed income housing development that could support up to 128 units of housing and would increase the grand list in the city by approximately $32,000,000 when fully constructed. At the current tax rates Barre city's property tax revenue would increase by approximately $1.1 Million.    When others resisted and dragged their feet, Thom supported the work of Barre Area Development and pressed on.  Recently, Thom advanced the idea of a TIF District in Barre's North End, which would support badly needed infrastructure replacement and flood mitigation efforts.  In the aftermath of the 2023 flooding event, Thom has been working directly with the Scott Administration to advance the Governor's vision for a bold recovery and mitigation plan aimed at rebuilding Barre's devastated North End.  Immediately after the flooding, Thom reached out to the Governor and Secretary of Transportation and successfully advanced a plan to quickly rebuild and repave Route 302.  As mayor, Thom will use his experience to Barre's advantage and explore every opportunity to improve our city.  One of Thom's favorite quotes is “Our greatest regrets in life tend not to be the things we did wrong or failed to achieve; but rather the missed opportunities or things we didn't do that we wish we had.” 

This is one of Thom's favorite memories.  It was the year the Barre city council beat the Vermont Ravens (a semi-professional football team) in the Granite City Tow Down.  The Ravens were young, strong and athletic.  The council - not so much.  Some would argue that the Ravens had an off-day.  Thom would argue that the council had a great day.  Thom recalls the event fondly.  "No one expected a bunch of broken down, middle aged men to be able to compete with them, so we had nothing to lose.  I remember grabbing the ropes and saying to the council "just beat the Ravens. One time - give everything you've got."  And we did.  In those few seconds, we were focused on one goal, we worked  in unity and there were no differences or distractions."  So it is with working together.  The sad fact is, we'll always have more challenges than we have resources.  And there's no shortage of things to disagree on.  But there are also many things we do agree on.  Let's focus on and prioritize those challenges.  Who would disagree with a renewed and resilient North End?  Let's work together and do it.  Who would disagree that we need more housing - all kinds of housing - subsidized and market rate?  Lets work together and do it.  Who would disagree with having every storefront filled on Main Street?  Let's work together and do it.  Who would disagree with the notion that infrastructure should be well maintained and replaced as needed?  Let's work together and do it.  Some will say it's not that simple.  It is that simple if we want it to be.  People don't elect leaders to be entertained, they elect leaders to solve problems.  If it's drama you're looking for,  then go to the movies.  The national stage is certainly not a good example of unified leadership.  The Barre, Vermont council chambers could be.  Think about that..
 

By profession, Thom is a certified public accountant and Senior Partner at Salvador & Babic, P.C., where he provides tax, planning and management advisory services to individuals and businesses.  Thom and Karen also own several real estate development companies.  Their favorite projects are the restoration projects they've completed in their home town.  Thom's career as an advisor, business owner and community leader is broad and diverse.  After 9/11, Thom was appointed to the Homeland Security Region I Advisory Council by President George Bush.  Judge Mary Miles Teachout appointed Thom to serve as Receiver for the Mountainside Condominium Association, a 99 unit condominium complex that had been partially destroyed by fire and was technically bankrupt and facing multiple lawsuits, a million dollar funding gap and an insurance coverage dispute.  When his service was completed, Thom had successfully overseen the reconstruction of a 36 unit residential complex, stabilized the Association's finances, settled all outstanding litigation and won a two million dollar arbitration award against the insurer.  Thom has served as Lion's Club President, as a Barre School Board Member and on the boards of the Barre Partnership and the Barre Granite Museum.  Thom currently serves on the board of the Barre Community Relief Fund, which raised and distributed $500,000.00 to Barre businesses and neighbors impacted by the July, 2023 flooding event.  Thom also serves on the Vermont Board of Liquor and Lottery, having been appointed by Governor Shumlin and reappointed by Governor Scott.  As one of Thom's friends once remarked "If Thom's in the room, big things happen".