Political Career

In 1991, Tom entered politics running as a Republican-endorsed candidate for the St. Paul School Board, defeating a sitting DFL incumbent. Now the seven-member board’s sole Republican member during his near-18 years of service, Tom learned the challenges of advocating for taxpayers. He won all five elections as a Republican-endorsed candidate in heavily-DFL St. Paul, building coalitions with conservative Democrats and independents. When conservative policy goals were limited, Tom focused on the non-partisan but important constituent work. He ran for Ramsey County Commissioner in an open seat in 1994, barely losing to Rafael Ortega 51-49% while DFL U.S. Senate candidate Ann Wynia was winning nearly 70% of the city vote.

As a board member, Conlon oversaw a district of up to 45,000 students (late 1990s; then the state’s largest school district), 7500 employees and a $600 million annual budget. He hired two superintendents of schools and participated in the board’s independent audit reviews and discussions of school district operations and finances.

While on the school board, Conlon’s fiscally conservative voting record meant frequent 6-1 dissenting votes on fiscal and social issues. These included:

  • Tax increases and levies
  • Unaffordable employee contracts that caused layoffs or larger class sizes
  • Project labor agreements that restricted free market pricing and competition
  • “Card-check” proposals to eliminate secret ballot elections for private school bus contractors, or on budgets that he felt rewarded interest groups more than students.
  • Opposing funds for lawsuits against the state seeking more money, and to defend the illegal “card check” school bus contract provision

Tom also voted in the minority against then Superintendent Patricia Harvey’s recommendation to eliminate the school district’s internal auditor. Tom felt that the position identified fraud and improper practices that saved the district far more than the costs of the office. He also believed the internal audit function should have reported to the board, rather than the administration, because of the potential for conflicts of interest. In 2009, at least two school district employees were charged with embezzling funds.

On social issues, Tom advocated strongly for:

  • JROTC options for students
  • D.A.R.E (drug abuse education)
  • Rights of military recruiters to meet students in high school cafeterias or major school hallways
  • On-site school police officers for added student, staff and community member safety
  • A pledge of allegiance requirement in schools (before mandated by the state) and display of a U.S. flag in all classrooms
  • Parental rights when high school clinics wanted to dispense contraceptives without parental approval. Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) endorsed Tom in all of his re-election campaigns.

An investment and business opportunity in a hospitality venue led to Tom’s resignation from the school board in the Early Summer of 2009 when he relocated to Asheville, N.C. However, keeping his photography, real estate and teaching commitments in Minnesota, he returned home in late 2009. Having a long-time interest in the state auditor office’s ability to protect taxpayer dollars and educate local and county governmental units on ways to follow more taxpayer-friendly policies, Tom decided to enter the race for State Auditor against DFL incumbent Rebecca Otto. He is seeking (and abiding by) the Republican Party’s endorsement at its April 29-May 1 state convention in Minneapolis.