Leslie Russell Thoms (March 7, 1938 - December 5, 1999) was a Canadian politician, who represented the electoral district of Grand Bank in the Newfoundland House of Assembly from 1979 to 1982. He was a member of the Liberal Party.

Leslie Thoms
MHA for Grand Bank
In office
1979–1982
Preceded byAlex Hickman
Succeeded byBill Matthews
Personal details
Born
Leslie Russell Thoms

(1938-03-07)March 7, 1938
Garnish, Newfoundland, Canada
DiedDecember 5, 1999(1999-12-05) (aged 61)
St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
Political partyLiberal
Occupationlawyer

Prior to his election to the legislature, Thoms had been a supporter of Bill Rowe's 1977 campaign for the Liberal leadership,[1] although Rowe stepped aside in favour of Don Jamieson by the time of the 1979 Newfoundland general election. Thoms was elected to the legislature in that election.[2] Due to the Liberal Party's loss, Jamieson stepped down as leader following the election and Thoms ran as a candidate in the resulting leadership convention,[3] but ultimately lost to Len Stirling.[4]

Thoms was defeated in the 1982 Newfoundland and Labrador general election by Bill Matthews of the Progressive Conservatives.

He subsequently worked as a staff lawyer in the provincial Ministry of Justice.[5]

He died on December 5, 1999, in St. John's.[6]

Electoral record edit

1979 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Leslie Thoms 3,431 65.0
Progressive Conservative Clarence Rogers 1,646 31.2
  NDP Harvey Tulk, Jr. 198 3.8
1982 Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Bill Matthews 2,857 51.6
Liberal Leslie Thoms 2,442 44.1
  NDP Eric Miller 234 4.23

References edit

  1. ^ Bren Walsh, "Information leaks set Liberal pot boiling". The Globe and Mail, January 13, 1979.
  2. ^ "Members elected". The Globe and Mail, June 20, 1979.
  3. ^ Barbara Yaffe, "Leadership candidates help finance delegates". The Globe and Mail, November 1, 1980.
  4. ^ Barbara Yaffe, "Stirling to lead Newfoundland Liberals". The Globe and Mail, November 3, 1980.
  5. ^ Kirk Makin, "Ruling threatens to gut compensation scheme". The Globe and Mail, November 15, 1986.
  6. ^ "Pays tribute to Leslie Thoms". The Western Star, December 7, 1999.