The Florida League of Cities (FLC), the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments, recently recognized Sanford City Commissioner, Claudia Thomas, with a 2026 Home Rule Hero Award for their hard work and advocacy efforts during the 2026 Legislative Session. Thomas worked tirelessly throughout session to promote local voices making local choices by sharing insights, local data, and real-world examples that helped inform state lawmakers and elevate the voice of Florida’s cities.
“Local voices matter, and during the 2026 Legislative Session, these leaders made sure those voices were heard,” said FLC Chief of Legislative Affairs Casey Cook. “By engaging early, often, and thoughtfully, they helped elevate the municipal perspective and reinforce the importance of local decision-making. We sincerely appreciate their dedication and are proud to recognize their advocacy on behalf of Florida’s cities.”
Home Rule is the ability for a city to address local problems with local solutions with minimal state interference. Home Rule Hero Award recipients are local government officials, both elected and nonelected, who consistently responded to the League’s request to reach out to members of the Legislature and help give a local perspective on an issue.
“It is truly meaningful to receive this honor as I begin my second year as an elected official. As a citizen, I closely followed what was happening in Tallahassee long before my election, and now I have the privilege of representing and advocating for all of my constituents to the best of my ability. Local Voices, Make Local Choices,” said Commissioner Claudia Thomas, District 4.
Commissioner Thomas was raised in Pittsburgh, starting college at the University of Pittsburgh as a Jazz Guitar major and graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Business Administration.
In 1979, Claudia moved to Central Florida, where she started her career as a Recruiter in County Government. She then spent almost 30 years at Lockheed Martin, becoming their “PeopleSoft Guru” and receiving the company’s highest honor, the Pinnacle Award, three times. After retiring as a Systems Integration Analyst Sr. Staff, Claudia got active in the community, working on five Habitat for Humanity Women Builds, serving on the board at her local community theatre, and becoming a technology chair, communication’s chair, regional director and treasurer for several civic organizations.
Commissioner Thomas was elected to serve in Sanford in November 2024 to a four-year term. She also serves on the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness, represents Sanford at Tri-County League of Cities and CALNO (Council of Local Government) Meetings, and was recently appointed to serve on the Florida League of Cities 2025-2026 Intergovernmental Relations, Mobility, and Emergency Management Committee, one of the League’s five Legislative Policy Committees.
