by Kym Byrnes, photography by Nikola Tzenov
Politics in America today can feel exhausting. Public discourse has grown combative, and too many elected officials seem more interested in scoring points or tearing others down than in listening, collaborating, or finding shared ground. It shouldn’t be remarkable when someone in public office leads with respect, but it usually is.
To be clear, Carroll County is fortunate. We have many local leaders who show up with integrity, listen, care about the people they serve, and treat others with dignity, even in disagreement.
This article is not meant to suggest that Carroll County Commissioner Tom Gordon III is the only one who behaves this way. Instead, it is to recognize that at a time when civility in politics is increasingly rare, Gordon’s steady commitment to respectful leadership is worth acknowledging.
Gordon doesn’t just represent District 3; he consistently works to represent all of Carroll County. What sets him apart — and why we’ve named him our 2025 Person of the Year — is the combination of this approach with his long-standing support of nonprofits, his advocacy for small businesses, and his willingness to move forward initiatives that benefit well-known and often-marginalized parts of the community.
“Tom is an advocate, bridge builder, and connector. He leads by example, and he always finds a way to make people, even kids, feel seen and valued.” – Sean Davis, boys & girls clubs of carroll county
The Early Years
Tom Gordon’s roots in Carroll County run deep, shaped by a childhood steeped in history, community, and service. He grew up on East Main Street in Westminster in a historic home, surrounded by antiques and stories of the past. His father was an avid antiques dealer, and both grandfathers served in World War II, one in the U.S. Navy and one in the U.S. Army. Although a heart condition prevented Gordon from serving in the military himself, being raised around veterans fostered a lifelong respect for service and sacrifice.
His grandparents were farmers, and he spent much of his youth on their Manchester farm — land he now owns — learning the value of hard work and stewardship of the land.
Gordon has been active in his community from a young age, earning the rank of Eagle Scout with Troop 381. He attended Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College), where he studied sociology. His professional life began in the family antiques business and later in publishing, which took him across the country. Still, he remained anchored to Westminster.
Politics: ‘We have a lot more in common than we think.’
“I never had an inclination to get into politics, although I was always interested in what was happening in politics, especially in my local community,” Gordon says. “Then, around 2017, I started reflecting on my grandmother’s words: ‘How’s the world treating you, and how are you treating the world today?’ and thinking, ‘If I don’t do it, then who will?’”
Although elected as a Republican to represent District 3, he makes it clear he works for all of Carroll County.
“My door is open to anyone on any topic,” he says. He meets with residents regardless of ideology, ZIP code, or whether they agree with him — so long as the conversation stays respectful. That mindset matters even more since the county shifted from three commissioners elected at large to five elected by district, which he says has led some people to assume commissioners represent only their slice of the county. “Every decision we make affects the entire county,” he adds.
His approach was tested last year by Westminster resident Mel Brennan. Brennan and his wife, frustrated with unsafe conditions in their apartment complex, had written to Gordon but heard nothing back. Both were present at a public event, and Brennan felt Gordon avoided him. Brennan posted about his frustration on social media. Gordon, who was on his way to a funeral, returned to the event afterward specifically to talk with Brennan.
“I have a physical presence as a 6-foot-7 Black man; I realize some people might hesitate to address me in person,” he says. But the two had a respectful conversation, which led to a follow-up breakfast with Gordon, Brennan, and Brennan’s wife. While Gordon couldn’t ultimately do much about the landlord issue, Brennan deeply appreciated being heard, taken seriously, and given time by his elected representative.
“It’s what should be normal,” Gordon says. “But it isn’t always — and that’s why it mattered.”
Gordon believes deeply that a community functions best when its people see themselves not as isolated individuals or political camps, but as part of a shared whole. He acknowledges that the nation is divided — “you see it at all levels, especially online where people hide behind their keyboards,” he says — but he insists that Carroll County still has the capacity to choose connection over conflict.
He points to last year’s community meeting with the power company regarding the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project’s (MPRP) proposed transmission line and eminent domain.
“None of us wanted to hear what they had to say,” he recalls, “but what stood out was that it didn’t matter what your political party was or whether you lived on a farm or in a cul-de-sac. Everyone in that room showed up as one community.”
That unity, he says, proves people can set aside differences when they care about where they live. Sometimes, he believes, it’s as simple as asking, “What can I do for my neighbor?” “Yes, there are differences,” he says, “but if we take a step back, we’d realize we have a lot more in common than we think.”
Communities and Causes
Gordon approaches Carroll County’s economic future with realism and reverence for its past. He understands the pressure on small businesses in a county with limited commercial and industrial land — less commercial tax revenue means a greater burden on homeowners. At the same time, he’s proud of the decisions Carroll County has made over several decades to preserve its rural character. With more than 80,000 acres in the agricultural preservation program — moving toward a goal of 100,000, or nearly one-third of the county’s land — Carroll has ensured it will never become a sprawling suburb.
That balance is where Gordon, himself a small business owner, has long invested his energy. Mike McMullin, president of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, describes Gordon as “a champion for small business.” Even before he was elected, Gordon was active in the Chamber’s Legislative Committee.
Now, as a commissioner, he regularly meets with business owners, speaks at Chamber breakfasts, listens to concerns and, as McMullin notes, “acts on them.” To Gordon, economic growth and rural preservation are essential to keeping Carroll County a place where people want to live, work, and stay.
Among Gordon’s most defining qualities as a public servant is his consistent attention to communities that are often overlooked or underserved. His advocacy for veterans is deeply personal, as he was raised by a family that revered service.
Jason Sidock, executive director at the Carroll County Veterans Independence Project (CCVIP), says Gordon’s commitment is evident in his work not only as an advisor but also as a dependable problem-solver. CCVIP recognized him last year for his efforts in this area.
One of the most meaningful examples of that commitment was Gordon’s response to the story of Vietnam veteran George Keeney. When CCVIP reached out about Keeney, who was in hospice and still waiting for the Air Medal he had been promised decades earlier, Gordon didn’t hesitate.
He helped cut through the red tape to secure the medal, then went on to do more. He sat at Keeney’s bedside to personally present the Air Medal in a full, heartfelt ceremony — complete with a county challenge coin — because he knew the dignity of the moment mattered. Keeney, who had been given only days to live, held on for several more months.
For Gordon, it wasn’t a political act; it was a human one. “To see his spirit lifted like that … it’s something I’ll never forget,” he says.
Gordon’s advocacy extends beyond veterans. In the realm of Black history and preservation, Gordon has become a key champion of the Robert Moton museum project to transform the former Robert Moton High School, Carroll County’s first high school for Black students, into a museum honoring Black history in the county.
Bill Hudson, a lifelong Carroll County resident who attended the school and now leads the initiative, says that after Gordon took office, he not only listened but also actively moved the effort forward. Hudson says, “He listens, he engages people, and he understands the importance of this for our whole community.”
In addition to his advocacy for veterans and his leadership in bringing the Robert Moton Black history museum to life, Gordon has been a devoted supporter of Carroll County’s young people through his work with the Boys & Girls Club. His involvement began after being invited by his first-grade teacher, Beth Tevis, to visit the Boys & Girls Club. During that visit, he met a girl named Evelyn, who couldn’t stop talking about how thrilled she was to turn 6 because it meant she could finally come to the Club.
“When he saw the pure joy on her face, he was hooked,” recalls President and CEO Sean Davis.
Since then, Gordon has become one of the organization’s most engaged champions, serving on its Board of Directors, the Governance Committee, and the BUILD Campaign Committee. From jumping into a Polar Dunk Tank fundraiser to arranging a surprise visit from Captain America and Superman, Gordon brings the same enthusiasm and heart he’s known for as a public servant. He also helped launch the Young Entrepreneurs Fund to inspire future leaders by connecting them with young business professionals.
“Tom is an advocate, bridge builder, and connector,” Davis says. “He leads by example, and he always finds a way to make people — even kids — feel seen and valued.”
Cherishing the Spirit of Carroll County
Carroll Magazine’s decision to name Gordon Person of the Year isn’t about endorsing every policy or position; it’s about recognizing the way Gordon shows up for people.
Although the commissioner role is technically part-time, Gordon treats it like a full-time calling. His social feed reads like a daily roll call of gratitude — nurses, first responders, farmers, and teachers. Gordon’s calendar mirrors this mindset: ribbon-cuttings for new small businesses, community festivals, agricultural events, nonprofit fundraisers, and celebrations across every corner of Carroll County.
For Gordon, presence is the point. “I’m just enjoying not only things in our community but the people,” he says. “That’s the biggest asset we have — the people. There is nothing like getting up in the morning and stopping in at JeannieBird’s to see Bernie Vogel, or going to the post office and seeing a postal worker I’ve known for 30 years. Community connections make life better for all of us — not just transactional. It’s lifelong relationships.”
This belief — simple, steady, human — is why Gordon stands out this year. His way of leading reminds us that listening first, showing up, and treating each other like neighbors isn’t old-fashioned. It’s how a community moves forward, together.
“Yes, there are differences, but if we take a step back, we’d realize we have a lot more in common than we think.” — Thomas Gordon III
