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Tommy Thompson to retire after 40 years of serving Henderson County

Tommy Thompson takes the oath after winning re-election to the Board of Commissioners in December 2014, his 10th straight election victory in Henderson County.

By Lightning Reports, Published: October 23, 2017

Thomas H. "Tommy" Thompson, who served 32 years as Henderson County Clerk of Superior Court and two more terms on the Board of Commissioners, will not run for re-election, he announced Monday.

"I am truly grateful for the relationships and friendships I have developed while serving Henderson County," Thompson said in a statement. "My intentions are to continue serving Henderson County which I dearly love through my church and the civic organizations in which I am currently involved.
"I would like to thank the citizens of Henderson County for placing their trust in me as both their Clerk of Superior Court and County Commissioner. Most of all, I would like to express my deepest thanks to my wife Sherry and our children T. C. and Amanda and their families for their years of continued and loving support. I feel very fortunate to have represented the citizens of this county."

Thompson, who lives in Dana, said in an interview last week that he had reached a decision to retire before he learned that Tim Griffin had announced his candidacy for the District 4 seat but wanted to hold his announcement until he could prepare a statement. Thompson edged Griffin in the May 2014 Republican primary by 163 votes — 50.7 to 49.3 percent. His win in November of that year made his 10th straight election victory in Henderson County.

Thompson's departure would make Griffin the frontrunner for the Republican nomination in the district, which covers Dana, Edneyville and Bat Cave. A former Hendersonville police and sheriff's officer and longtime firefighter, Griffin also ran for sheriff in 2006.

Candidates for the Board of Commissioners are elected by voters countywide but live in one of five geographic districts. Filing for the seat opens Feb. 12. The primary is May 8.