Bob Thomas ponders future after spending 24 years dedicated to Franklin County

Franklin County Commissioner Bob Thomas spent his last days in office combing through paperwork, scrolling through emails and reflecting on news clippings — all are now memories which will be filed away, along with the many awards he earned, from his 24 years on the board.

It wasn’t an easy process archiving two decades worth of work. Saying goodbye to colleagues that have become friends both here and across the nation has been difficult, too.

“I’m going through a change now,” Thomas admitted. “It’s a struggle.”

Thomas, a Republican who sought re-election, but lost in the primary and then ran an unsuccessful write-in campaign, attended his last meeting as Franklin County Commissioner on Jan. 2. 

“The county has accomplished a tremendous amount over the last 12 years,” said Commissioner Dave Keller. “I consider it an honor and privilege to have served alongside him.”

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A job in government wasn’t something Thomas always dreamed of, rather he sort of happened into it.

His father owned WKSL FM radio in Greencastle and he spent 20 years in broadcasting, 13 of them at WCHA/WIKZ in Chambersburg, before returning to his dad’s station.

“I was always interested in politics,” Thomas recalled. “In my time in broadcasting, I would cover local government.”

That interest led to his bid for Chambersburg Borough Council, which he won in 1993. Two years later, he was elected county commissioner as the top vote-getter.

One of his first accomplishments was setting up the Franklin County Council of Governments, which brings together representatives of county municipalities together to discuss and address issues and concerns countywide. “I’ve always felt intergovernmental communication needs to be enhanced,” Thomas explained.

He quickly sought out ways to become not just present in the board room, but active in the community.

“What many people see of this job is commissioners’ meetings, but the job of a commissioner isn’t — or shouldn’t be — to sit at a desk and go to a meeting twice a week. You have to be engaged,” Thomas said. “I would get bored silly if that’s all we had to do.”

Over the years through his county role, Thomas became involved in the county Prison Board, state Probation Advisory Board, I-81 Coalition, Tuscarora Managed Care Alliance, Franklin County Head Start, Penn State Extension Board, and was named president of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania in 2016, the first commissioner from Franklin County to serve in the role.

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He grew relationships with other local, state and national officials and developed strong connections to a variety of organizations, from Homeland Security to Immigration Customs Enforcement to the White House.

“Nothing happens by itself,” Thomas said. “You need to have collaborations.”

But building relationships and developing programs takes time.

His typical day began at 6:45 a.m. and ended around 11 p.m. “It’s not a Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. job,” Thomas said. “It’s been mornings, nights and weekends. You are never off.”

In fact, he estimates he was at his desk only about 20 percent of his time.

One of the things Thomas enjoyed most was getting out and talking with constituents and listening to their concerns.

When he attended events, it was never just a “grip and grin” for him.

“I don’t come and go. I go up and say hello,” he said.

Some of the key issues he has been passionate about include early childhood development, mental health reform and justice reform.

“When you have a county where their mental health treatment facilities are jail, you have a problem,” he admitted.

But he has never been one to point out a problem without suggesting a fix.

“If I see a problem, I look for a solution,” Thomas said. “When I get into something, I don’t just put my toe in. I jump in. I’m all in when I get into something.”

He is proud of many county solutions.

“We embraced a co-responder program to work with police in Washington Township and Waynesboro and Greencastle,” he said. “To date, over 400 people with mental health issues have been helped and many diverted from the justice system.”

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He also brought the idea for Hope from the Start back from a program in Phoenix, Arizona. The program, now in its second year, connects county social services with healthcare and education services to new families.

“I’ve learned to know so many people across the county and have been able to bring project ideas back. It’s been great to talk about what they do and how we can do it here and how we can make a difference in Franklin County,” he said.

Thomas said his biggest frustration with the job was something many people don’t realize until they get involved.

"Government is not business,” Thomas said. “In business, you can make a decision and do it tomorrow. Government is slow. It’s not easy.”

Though his title is gone, Thomas, who recently turned 65, has no plans to slow down.

“I don’t know what my future holds, but I’m gonna stay involved as much as I can,” he said. “I don’t see myself retiring.”

Of course, he will enjoy being able to spend more time with his family, which includes wife, Sherryl, twin daughters Bobbie and Kelly, and a grandson.

But he won’t give up his passions, either. He will stay involved with First Start Partnerships for Children and Families and the P3 initiative.

“I do plan to continue to be an advocate for children,” Thomas said. “I don’t think there’s anything more important.”

He said he is grateful to have been able to serve the community he grew up in for two decades. “I’m very appreciative of all the support afforded me beginning in 1995 and all these years,” he said. “I tried to make a difference. I hope I have. I hope I’m judged as one who earned the right to serve.”

Andrea Rose is a Gannett reporter based in Waynesboro.