Thomas McDermott Jr.

Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr, on the left.

Thomas Matthew McDermott, Jr.,(D) (born March 1969) is the 20th mayor of Hammond, Indiana, USA, Indiana's 6th largest city. He took office on January 1, 2004. Mayor of Hammond is his first elected government office. He is a controversial figure in Calumet Region politics.

He has followed in the footsteps of his father, Thomas McDermott, Sr., (R) who was the 18th Mayor of Hammond and served from 1984-1992.

Life before politics

After high school, McDermott joined the United States Navy.

After the Persian Gulf War he attended Purdue University Calumet and later the University of Notre Dame Law School near South Bend, Indiana.

Politics

During his first term in office, McDermott is notably credited for the razing of the River Park Apartment complex. He also attracted a Cabela's store and a future water park resort to the former Woodmar Country Club site in south Hammond.

On March 28, 2008, McDermott endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton for President and hosted a rally for the senator in which she attended. Senator Clinton's arrival in Hammond was the first visit of any presidential political candidate since Ronald Reagan visited Hammond (Hessville Park) in 1976, and Robert Kennedy in 1968. During the Democratic Presidential primaries in Indiana, McDermott was seen on CNN questioning Gary, Indiana mayor, Rudy Clay about votes that had not yet been posted many hours after the polls had closed. This "mayor battle" was satirized the following day on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

He is interested in being the democratic canindate to replace Evan Bayh and run for the U.S. Senate seat in Indiana in 2010.

Controversy

In February 2007, 18-year-old Robert A. Markovich Jr., son of Councilman At-Large Robert Markovich, entered the mayor race in Hammond. On February 23, McDermott left a message on Markovich's phone telling him that if he did not withdraw from the mayor's race by that Monday, he would begin "ramping up" his campaign against the younger Markovich for running against him. "And I am seriously going to ramp up my campaign against you for councilman," he also said. He continued that he would use $400,000 in campaign money to use for direct-mail campaign pieces. "If you want your son exposed to that, then that's your prerogative, but I'm giving you fair warning," McDermott also said. Markovich, Jr. withdrew from the race before the February 26 deadline. A Northwest Indiana Times op-ed summed up the whole situation. It stated that Markovich Jr. "learned more about politics from a 90-second phone message than he could have if he had taken civics classes every semester in high school."

On September 10, 2009, David Woerpel, 5th District Democratic precinct captain, and a close associate of the mayor, was arrested for growing marijuana plants in his backyard. In response, McDermott left a message on Hammond sheriff Roy Dominguez. "As you probably know ... I'm sure you do know that Dave Woerpel was arrested, his wife was arrested, his two sons were arrested. They were swept up, because there was five tiny pot plants growing in their backyard. ... Nonetheless, they were swept up in a warrant. Tina was arrested in front of her employees in the (city) recycling center. You would think they were growing pounds and pounds of marijuana in the backyard, but it turns out they were growing five small, little plants, which leads me to believe that somebody is playing politics, and it's got to be either you or (Lake County Police Chief) Marco (Kuyachich) or (Lake County Prosecutor) Bernie (Carter). So I'm calling all three of you, and I'm going to let you know that I'm definitely getting involved in the sheriff's race, and I'm pissed off. Roy, this is completely, completely uncalled for. Dave Woerpel is the captain of the 5th District, captain in the city of Hammond ... very, very powerful, very, very political, and you guys arrested him and he had nothing to do with it. Nothing. Roy, that's the dirtiest trick I've ever seen. Have a nice day." The sheriff responded with, "I have never been intimidated by political threats." McDermott later commented, "I didn't think the sheriff was going to make this conversation public. That's the kind of guy he is."

Personal life

He is married to Marissa McDermott of Warsaw, Poland and has four children. He lives in the Woodmar neighborhood of Hammond near the local Purdue University Calumet campus.

External links

• Official website
• McDermott's phone call to Sheriff Roy Dominguez
• McDermott's phone call to Robert Markovich