Profile
Tom and his wife Laura.
Tom Vanderbeck was elected County Commissioner from District 4 in 2006 in a grass-roots campaign to oust a well-financed incumbent Board Chair. He ran on a campaign theme of truth, honesty and integrity, and he has lived those principles in office.
Tom has been a leader among his fellow county commissioners in promoting alternative energy programs, energy efficiency, green business attraction, sustainable agriculture, affordable housing, green building, waste reduction and recycling, transit, and countywide broadband coverage.
Tom’s commitment to these sustainable community initiatives comes naturally from his lifelong commitment to the “green” values, having been a small-scale farmer, homesteader, building-trades professional, and community activist.
Tom and his wife, Laura, have lived in Hadley Township for thirteen years. Tom was born and reared in New Jersey. Like many residents, he and Laura are Chathamites by choice. Laura is originally a native of Guilford County. They moved back to North Carolina to care for Laura’s aging mother, and they chose Chatham to put down permanent roots. They live in a solar home they co-designed and built. Laura is a PhD psychologist with her own consulting and clinical practice.
Until his election in 2006, Tom had divided his time between small-scale sustainable farming, property management and community affairs. However, he considers his service as a Commissioner to be his full-time job, so other interests have taken a back seat. Even so, Tom and Laura still grow and process over 300 pounds of tomatoes annually, along with other assorted vegetables for personal use. He can often be seen helping others in need of a strong back or mechanical or technical expertise.
Tom has been appointed to the Board of Directors of The e-NC Authority, a statewide organization focused on rural broadband access.
He also serves as a member of the following county committees and boards:
- Orange-Person-Chatham Mental Health Board
- Triangle Area Rural Planning Organization Board (Vice-chair)
- Chatham Transit Network
- county broadband committee
In addition, he serves as Commissioner liaison to the following county boards and committees:
- Housing Advisory Board
- Green Building Task Force
- Green Economy Task Force
- Housing Coalition of Chatham
- Pittsboro-Siler City Convention and Visitors Bureau Board
- Solid Waste Advisory Committee
- Transportation Advisory Board
Tom has also long served the community as:
- Active member, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
- Owner and Investor, Chatham Marketplace in Pittsboro
- One of the owners, Weaver Street Market
- Active participant, Democratic Party, and
- Member, Chatham Alliance for Sustainable Energy