Thomas Reynolds



Thomas M. Reynolds was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from New York who represented the state's 26th Congressional district from 1999-2008 (map).

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Rep. Mark Foley congressional page scandal
In October 2006, Reynolds became swept up in the Mark Foley page scandal. In early 2006, Reynolds was informed by Rep. Rodney Alexander (R-La.) that Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) had engaged in email correspondence with a former congressional page of his which was considered “overfriendly.” Reynolds claimed to have then contacted House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) about the situation. While Hastert originally claimed to have no knowledge of the Foley emails upon his resignation, he later refused to deny that the conversation with Reynolds took place.


 * Read a full account of the Mark Foley page scandal

Background
Reynolds was born in Belfonte, Pennsylvania September 3, 1950 and he graduated from the Springville-Griffith Institute. Reynolds was elected to the Concord, New York town board in 1974. He was elected to the Erie County legislature in 1982. He was elected to the New York general assembly as a Republican in 1988.

Congressional Career
Reynolds ran for the United States House of Representatives in 1998 after Bill Paxon was forced from office because of his failed attempt to replace Newt Gingrich as Speaker of the House. There was a considerable amount of controversy over this because Reynolds did not live in Paxon's district. Reynolds would not move into the district until eight months after the election when he purchased a home in suburban Clarence.

Reynolds served as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee during the 108th Congress, and is considered a possible candidate to succeed Dennis Hastert as Speaker of the House.

2006 elections
In 2006, the Democrats nominated Jack Davis to face Reynolds in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) In a close race, Reynolds defeated Davis, receiving 52% of the vote. 

Retirement
In March 2008, Reynolds announced he would not seek reelection, and would instead retire at the end of 110th Congress. Reynolds' time as head of the National Republican Congressional Committee had come under increased scrutiny due to revelations that a former accountant for the organization allegedly embezzled close to $1 million.

Money in politics
cid=N00001295&cycle=2008

Committee assignments in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Ways and Means
 * Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures
 * Subcommittee on Trade

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * House Committee on House Administration
 * House Committee on Ways and Means
 * Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures
 * Subcommittee on Trade
 * Joint Committee on Printing

Coalitions and Caucuses

 * Chair, Erie County Republican Party, 1990-1996
 * Chair, National Republican Congressional Committee
 * Co-Chair, Republican Israel Caucus
 * Republican Study Committee

Boards and other Affiliations

 * National Republican State Legislators Association, Vice-President, 1992-present
 * American Legion, Concord Post #431
 * Better Business Bureau of Western New York
 * Buffalo Consistory
 * Erie County Agricultural Society
 * Ismalia Temple AAONMS
 * National Rifle Association
 * Shooters Committee Political Education
 * Southtown's Walleye Association
 * Springville Masonic Lodge

Contact
DC Office: 332 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202-225-5265 Fax: 202-225-5910 Web Email Website

District Office - Rochester: 1577 West Ridge Road Rochester, NY 14615 Phone: 585-663-5570 Fax: 585-663-5711

District Office - Williamsville: 500 Essjay Road, Suite 260 Williamsville, NY 14221 Phone: 716-634-2324 Fax: 716-631-7610

External resources

 * Official website.
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

External articles

 * Gur, "The Phattest Bubble You've Ever Seen?", Room Eight, May 12, 2006.
 * Gur, "What Part Of "You Will Pimp My Pay to $168K" Did You Not Understand?", Room Eight, June 30, 2006.
 * Congressional Wire, "Earth to Congress - Come In!", Room Eight, July 11, 2006.
 * Gur, "Why Bother?", Room Eight, July 12, 2006.
 * Congress Wire, "How People's Ears Get Marked", Room Eight, August 17, 2006.
 * Michael Abramowitz, "GOP Candidates Claim Degrees Of Separation From President," Washington Post, September 5, 2006.
 * Jiji Lee, "NY Hearts Tom Reynolds," Room Eight, September 20, 2006.
 * News Release: "DNC: Why Did Tom Reynolds Cover Up Congressman's Sex Crimes?" U.S. Newswire, September 30, 2006. re Mark Foley page scandal
 * John Aravosis, "Did GOP Rep. Tom Reynolds Cover Up Congressman’s Sex Crimes?" and "Ex-Foley chief of staff now chief of staff to Rep. Tom Reynolds, second member to be informed last year of Foley's sex scandal," AMERICAblog, September 30, 2006.
 * Joe Sudbay, "More GOP cover-up: Reynolds contradicts Hastert," AMERICAblog, September 30, 2006.
 * Jerry Zremski and Douglas Turner, "Reynolds knew of Foley's e-mails. Though Issue Was Resolved. Says he notified speaker of House," Buffalo News (NY), October 1, 2006.
 * John Aravosis, "Mr. Reynolds, why is your chief of staff advising a child sex predator?" AMERICAblog, October 1, 2006.
 * Howard Kurtz, "Fox News vs. The World," Washington Post, October 2, 2006. Scroll down to "Foley's Showdown With ABC" and "More Foley Fallout".
 * "Reynolds accepted $100k from Foley in July," Think Progress, October 1, 2006.
 * Josh Marshall, Talking Points Memo, October 2, 2006.
 * Joe Sudbay, "Tom Reynolds used children as shield at his press conference to avoid questions about Foley," AMERICAblog, October 3, 2006.
 * John Aravosis, "LA Times: Reynolds' chief of staff is link between Foley and House GOP leadership in child sex predator scandal," AMERICAblog, October 3, 2006.
 * Buffalopundit, "Tom Reynolds (NY-26) On Defense," Room Eight, October 3, 2006.
 * Peter Wallsten and Noam N. Levey, "Aide at Center of the Controversy. Questions arise over whether GOP leaders should have known earlier about the behavior of Kirk Fordham's former boss," Los Angeles Times, October 4, 2006.
 * "Congressional Aide Resigns as Foley Investigation Intensifies," Associated Press (New York Times), October 4, 2006.
 * Larry Margask, "Ethics Panel Launches Foley Case Probe," Washington Post, October 5, 2006. See House Ethics Committee
 * John Aravosis, "Tom Reynolds (R-NY) chose to keep Don Sherwood (R-PA) in key GOP leadership job after Sherwood allegedly beat and tried to strangle his mistress," AMERICAblog, October 9, 2006. re Don Sherwood
 * Barbara Burns, "GOP Scandal Impacts Reynolds," WBEN.com (Buffalo, NY), October 10, 2006.
 * Kimberly Hefling, "Republican leaders drop out of fundraisers for Pa. congressman," Associated Press (PennLive.com), October 10, 2006.
 * Joe Sudbay, "Hastert, Reynolds cancel on Don 'The Choker' Sherwood -- will Bush show on Oct. 19?" AMERICAblog, October 10, 2006.
 * Juliet Eilperin, "Scandal Sidelines Hastert, Reynolds. GOP Leaders Cut Campaign Appearances," Washington Post, October 12, 2006.
 * John Riley, "Foley scandal a local issue for Reynolds. While the Foley scandal has been a problem for Republicans generally, it has special complications for Rep. Tom Reynolds," Newsday, October 14, 2006.
 * Buffalopundit, "NY-26: Fun vs. Substance," Room Eight, October 20, 2006.
 * Jiji Lee, "You Don't Know Jack," Room Eight, October 31, 2006.

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Simply Left Behind
 * Buffalo Geek
 * RochesterTurning