Bio

DISTRICT
State Rep. Tom Pearce was elected to serve the residents of the 73rd House District in Nov. 2004. He is serving his third term as House Republican Caucus Dean.

COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
Ethics and Elections; Education; Transportation; House Repubican Education Task Force.

EDUCATION
- Pearce is a graduate of Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids.
- Mentored by the late Congressman Paul Henry during his years of service in Lansing.

PROFESSIONAL
Pearce served as the executive director of the North Kent Service Center for 14 years where he led a successful fundraising campaign to build a new $1 million facility. He, his staff and volunteers helped meet the needs of thousands of families each year. He has continued his focus on the family while a legislator by serving on the National Conference of State Legislatures' committees on Human Services and Welfare, and Education; and on the American Legislative Exchange Council's task forces on Education, and Health and Human Services.

COMMUNITY SERVICE AND AFFILIATIONS
Pearce was a founding director of The Shoulder, a private, nonprofit, faith-based drug and alcohol treatment center. He served on the Cedar Springs Community Action Network and is past president of the Rockford Area Ministerial Association. He has been active with the Friends of White Pine Trail and helped found the North Kent Chapter of the American Heart Association. He is a founding and current board member of SowHope, an international nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire women around the world by promoting wellness, education and economic opportunities. Pearce also served on the board of Right to Life of Grand Rapids and is a member of the Congressional Youth Leadership Council's Honorary Board of Michigan State Legislators. Pearce is a regular volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and Hurricane Katrina restoration projects, and he has been named a member of The Heartland Institute's Board of Legislative Advisors.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

- Completed 2004 Michigan State University Legislative Leadership Program.

- Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development, 2006 fellow.

- Michigan Friends of Education/Public Enrichment Foundation 2006 Literacy Advocate Award recipient.

- 2006 Fight Crime Invest in Kids Michigan Crime Fighter Award recipient.

- Named 2007 Michigan After-School Partnership "After-School Champion."

- 2007 Dads and Moms of Michigan Legislator of the Year Award recipient.

- 2007-2008 National Federation of Independent Business "Guardian of Small Business" Award recipient.

- 2009 Henry Toll Fellow, The Council of State Governments.

PERSONAL
Pearce was born on March 27, 1956. He and his wife, Janet, have two children, Troy and Emily. Troy and his wife Melissa are the parents of the Pearces' granddaughters, Abby, Haylie, and Finlan. Pearce is a member of Bella Vista Church.