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Our Trusted Advocates

Tom Anderson

I have been asked by both friends and those with political interests why I sought out Tom Dugard to run for Dunedin City Commissioner. Many people realize that being a Dunedin City Commissioner is more of a public service than an income source. Commissioners receive less than $1,000 per month for a responsibility that is both important to thousands of lives and is life-consuming. A good Commissioner will spend about 60 hours a month in service to the Community.

I asked Tom to run for City Commissioner because I became acquainted with his dedication to our City, his BA & MPA, his professional background, and his work ethic. Tom and I are members of the Rotary Club of Dunedin, where Tom served as President from 2019-2020. He led our Club through the worst of the pandemic and got us to the other side. Tom invests himself in the Community. He is a Chamber Member, a member of the Dunedin History Museum, and Friends of the Island Parks. In his professional capacity, Tom has facilitated strategic plans for 211 Tampa Bay Cares, The Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, The Dunedin Fine Art Center, Dunedin Cares, and leadership coaching for Mease Life. Tom knows Dunedin!

When I asked in November of 2023, he said he would consider the prospect, but wanted time to confer with friends, his wife, and community leaders. Fortunately, he said yes. So, I endorse Tom for City Commission Seat #1. I know he will serve our community in a way that will make all of us proud to say we voted for Tom.

Dave Eggers

It is my pleasure to share my endorsement of Tom Dugard for Dunedin City Commission, Seat #1. This election is one of the most important in recent memory as we will be seeing a change in three of the five Dunedin City Commission seats.

As for me, after a lengthy review of qualifications and history of Community engagement, I have concluded that Tom Dugard is the best choice for Dunedin City Commissioner Seat #1. I encourage you to take the same steps as I have. Review the Dunedin Candidate Forum, see link below. Talk with your friends. Examine the candidate’s websites and make your decision. I hope you will join me in supporting Tom.

The storm we just faced highlights the importance of getting serious candidates in office that will make the tough decisions to address the pressing issues ahead.

Thank you for being an engaged voter and a part of making Dunedin great.

Sincerely,
Dave Eggers

Pinellas County Commissioner

Chad Dennison

IAFF (Dunedin Fire Fighters) has a proud tradition of community support and engagement. We see it as a
responsibility to not only protect the lives of Dunedin residents but to go beyond that assignment and serve the community good. One way we achieve that aim is to review the candidates for elected positions in Dunedin and endorse the absolute best. 

We are proud to announce that for 2024 we are endorsing Tom Dugard for City Commission Seat #1. Tom impressed our review board with his knowledge of the challenges facing first responders. But more importantly, Tom has the background and education to translate his passion for Dunedin into positive community results. We know Dunedin will be served well by Tom as our next City Commissioner for Seat #1.

Chad Dennison President of Dunedin Fire Fighters Association Local 2327

My Vision & Mission

Tom Dugard wants to keep our little piece of paradise...

SAFE for all of us.

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AFFORDABLE for our families.

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ENJOYABLE for visitors and citizens alike.

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PROFITABLE for our businesses.

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RESILIENT for our future.

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Your Contribution, Our Mission: Together, We Can Create Change

Be Heard, Be Valued

Make an impact by sharing your insights. Our voter survey is a quick and easy way to express your views.

About Tom

William Thomas Dugard, Jr. (Tom)

Tom was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in the middle of the last century to Jackie and Bill Dugard. Being the son of an Air Force officer in the midst of the Cold War, Tom never stayed more than five years in any city during his youth. But he would come to call Memphis, Tennessee, his home, as that is where his family celebrated the holidays with his grandmother. That may also be why Tom attended and graduated from college at Memphis State University.

Fundraising Specialist - Campaign Director

Tom’s first real job was at Methodist Hospital in Memphis as a medical technician. He grew to become the Director of the Physiology Lab and ultimately the Director of the Mid-South Eye Bank. It was in Memphis that Tom began his career with United Way. In June of 1975, Tom was hired by the United Way of Greater Memphis as a fundraising specialist, where he would ultimately be promoted to Campaign Director.

June 1975
1983
Executive Director

In 1983, Tom moved to Enid, Oklahoma, to accept the position of Executive Director of the United Way of
Enid and Northwest Oklahoma. While there, he would meet and marry his future bride, Lana Mueller.

Executive Director in five Cities

During Tom’s 30-year career with United Way, he would serve as the Executive Director in five Cities
across the country, concluding with the ED roll in Kansas City, Missouri. While serving Kalamazoo,
Michigan, he acquired a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Western Michigan University.
He also acquired two very precocious children during his travels, Tamara and Trey.

30 year career
2007
Affirmational Leadership Consulting LLC

In 2007, Tom concluded his career with United Way in Kansas City and began his own consulting business, Affirmational Leadership Consulting LLC. He has served as a consultant to some of the largest organizations in Kansas City and Washington, DC. Some more notable clients include US Bank, Kansas
City Public Schools, Time Warner, the US Federal Air Marshalls, and the YMCA.

Dunedin, Florida

In 2015, Tom and Lana moved their home and his business to Dunedin, Florida, after an extensive search
to find the best community in the country. Because Tom had lived in over 15 other cities, he knew to
Look for a place with both small-town charm and big-city amenities. Since moving to Dunedin, Tom and
Lana have totally embraced their adopted home through their Church, St Andrews Presbyterian.
The Rotary Club of Dunedin, the Dunedin Fine Art Center, and the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce.

2015

Tom’s clients include Mease Life, 211 Tampa Bay Cares, Park Eleazer Construction, USF, The Dunedin Fine Art Center, The Dunedin Golf Club, Dunedin Cares, Friends of the Island State Parks, and the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce.

Meet Tom Dugard

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For The People

“How fortunate could Lana and I possibly be to live in such a wonderful community as Dunedin. Truly delightful in so many ways and I’m committed to keeping it that way!”

Q&A with Tom

The City has skillfully managed some impressive capital projects while continuing to increase services. But future leadership has to be as skilled as the current Commission to ensure there will not ever be a need for increasing our tax level. I for one will be looking for any way possible to reduce the tax burdens on our citizens.

It is fascinating to discover that the population of Dunedin hasn’t grown much at all in the last few years. However, most conversations about population center around over-development. We are a very densely populated 22 square miles particularly when you consider that 12 of those square miles is surface water. What concerns me most is the gentrification of Dunedin. People with an average income are finding it more and more difficult to live in Dunedin.

Many of our City employees that support our City find it almost impossible to live in Dunedin if they are just starting out. Other cities have solved this problem, and we must go to school on the best answers.

Doesn’t seem like a hurricane season can pass without a close encounter with a cat 4 hurricane. We have been luckier than our neighbors as the storms have slipped either to our north or south. But that doesn’t change the fact that we could be ground zero for the next storm. We have learned some important lessons from Irma, Ian and Idalia.

We know we have to improve our storm drain system and even consider water diversion techniques. We will not be able to avoid hurricanes in the future, but we need to substantially harden our infrastructure to diminish their impact.

Dunedin has been a quality-of-life community since our very inception. Most of you won’t remember the great hog controversy of 1898 but it led to the incorporation of Dunedin into a township. And I pleased to report that we haven’t had hogs in downtown for the longest time. But one of the things that keeps Dunedin, Dunedin is the series of celebrations and festivals that fill our calendar and our lives.

We must continue the support of these events in a responsible manner. That means working with businesses and other leadership organizations to find the smartest way to ensure their continued support.

Few realize that Delightful Dunedin has a serious homeless problem. Most of our homeless are by necessity transient. But while within our borders they are in our charge. Having worked on this problem in Raleigh and Kansas City, I can tell you it is one of the more difficult. Many just want the homeless out of sight.

Let me assure you that has been tried with little to no success. The more creative solutions center around encouraging behavior that leads to greater self sufficiency and independence. We will need to partner with organizations like the Salvation Army to work constructively and compassionately toward a good solution.

It is a painful fact that too many of our families are challenged to put food on the table every night. And most painful is the fact that our children are the biggest victims. One of the best investments this community has ever made was in creating Dunedin Cares.

We need to double down on that investment and push back on hunger especially for our
kids.

Some may not be as supportive of the arts as I am. To be honest for the early part of my life I approached creative side of life with a more utilitarian mind. But through the help and guidance of others I came to learn that to fulfill a life it must be filled with art. All sorts of art. I will be one that vigorously speaks for and supports the growth of the arts in Dunedin.

This is perhaps the hardest question facing Dunedin.. With only 10 square miles to share with almost 37,000 people we must be very careful about what is added and even more careful about what we might subtract. It is when we think individually rather than collectively that we get in trouble. Our legacy, that I plan on continuing, is to to be sure we have plans and policies that keep our growth benefiting all of us.

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