Leslie Thoms

{{Short description|Canadian politician}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | image =  | name = Leslie Thoms | caption = | office1 = MHA for Grand Bank | term_start1 = 1979 | term_end1 = 1982 | predecessor1 = Alex Hickman | successor1 = Bill Matthews | party = Liberal | birth_date = {{birth date|1938|03|07}} | birth_place = {{nowrap|Garnish, Newfoundland, Canada}} | birth_name = Leslie Russell Thoms | death_date = {{Death date and age|1999|12|5|1938|03|07}} | death_place = St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada | occupation = lawyer }} '''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.

The son of James Ernest Thoms and Gertrude Helen Bridger, he was born in Garnish and was educated in Middle Brook. Leslie was one of eight children including Paul Thoms, who also spent time in the House of Assembly.

Prior to his election to the legislature, Thoms had been a supporter of Bill Rowe's 1977 campaign for the Liberal leadership,<ref>Bren Walsh, "Information leaks set Liberal pot boiling". ''The Globe and Mail'', January 13, 1979.</ref> 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.<ref>"Members elected". ''The Globe and Mail'', June 20, 1979.</ref> 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,<ref>Barbara Yaffe, "Leadership candidates help finance delegates". ''The Globe and Mail'', November 1, 1980.</ref> but ultimately lost to Len Stirling.<ref>Barbara Yaffe, "Stirling to lead Newfoundland Liberals". ''The Globe and Mail'', November 3, 1980.</ref>

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.<ref>Kirk Makin, "Ruling threatens to gut compensation scheme". ''The Globe and Mail'', November 15, 1986.</ref>

He died on December 5, 1999, in St. John's.<ref>"Pays tribute to Leslie Thoms". ''The Western Star'', December 7, 1999.</ref>

==Electoral record== {{Election box begin | title=1979 Newfoundland and Labrador general election}} {{CANelec|NL|Liberal|'''Leslie Thoms'''|3,431|65.0|}} {{CANelec |NL |PC |Clarence Rogers |1,646|31.2 |–}} {{Canadian party colour|NL|NDP|row}} |NDP |Harvey Tulk Jr. |align="right"|198 |align="right"|3.8 |align="right"| |- |}

{{Election box begin | title=1982 Newfoundland and Labrador general election}} {{CANelec |NL |PC |Bill Matthews|2,857|51.6 |–}} {{CANelec|NL|Liberal|'''Leslie Thoms'''|2,442|44.1|}} {{Canadian party colour|NL|NDP|row}} |NDP |Eric Miller |align="right"|234 |align="right"|4.23 |align="right"| |- |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thoms, Leslie}} Category:1938 births Category:1999 deaths Category:Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador MHAs Category:20th-century members of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly