Tom McPherson
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Thomas Allen McPherson (March 26, 1935 – December 15, 2020) was an American politician from Florida, serving both as a mayor and in both state government houses.
Biography
McPherson was the first elected mayor of Cooper City, Florida, with prior mayors being appointed by property developers.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was born in Decatur, Illinois.<ref name="Legacy">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He later served in both houses of government in Florida for over 16 years.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
During his time in the legislature, McPherson championed environmental issues, including raising over $100 million via bonds to protect environmentally sensitive areas.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He also served as the House Community Affairs Committee chairman.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
McPherson lost his state Senate seat in 1990 after losing in the primary to Ken Jenne.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> McPherson lost the seat a year after admitting his drinking problem on the floor of the state Senate.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
McPherson died in Tallahassee, Florida on December 15, 2020, at the age of 85.<ref name="Legacy"/>