Candidates

Thomas M. McDermott, Jr. is the 20th Mayor of Hammond, Indiana's 8th largest city. He took office on January 1st, 2004 and was the city's first Democratic mayor in 20 years. Tom is the longest serving mayor in the City of Hammond's history and is currently serving a fifth consecutive term. Tom served six years in the United States Navy as a nuclear submariner aboard the USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 709) during the Persian Gulf War. He served as a nuclear electrician in the sub's reactor plant and passed the strenuous U.S. Navy Dive School to become the ship's only diver. After the Navy, Tom attended Purdue Northwest, earning high honors in Finance while working full time. Law school took Tom to South Bend, where he attended the University of Notre Dame. There, Tom worked in the school's Legal Aid office, providing legal services for the less fortunate. After receiving his law degree, Tom returned to Hammond to open his own law practice.