Meet Tom Byron | Community Organizer & Legislative Aide

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tom Byron and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tom, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
The people I work with. I’ve had the chance to work alongside incredible volunteers, candidates, organizers, and activists, and they all inspire me in different ways. I’ve worked with people who’ve been knocking doors in their neighborhoods since my parents were children, people who’ve just moved to my town but are so eager to get involved, and everyone in between. It’s hard to be cynical about politics when I see how many incredible human beings are dedicated to making our home a better place.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve been working in political campaigns for about 10 years now, and I think what sets me apart most is that I genuinely enjoy knocking doors. I started off as a field organizer, talking to strangers about politics, and its’ still some of the most unique and rewarding work in my field.

Getting to where I am today was not easy. The campaign world is confusing, intense, and requires a ton of both dedication and flexibility. I had to find a new job every six months, manage a full time student workload in high school and college while working campaigns, and be willing to travel to other cities or even other states to follow the work. It took effort and dedication to overcome those challenges, but also a huge dose of luck. My family, my high school, my college, and now my “normal” job as a legislative aide have all supported my campaign work. If it weren’t for my advisors, mentors, and friends I would not be able to be here today.

I want the world to know that as depressing as politics can be, campaign work can be extremely rewarding. Especially at the local level, I’ve had a chance to work with kind, dedicated people from all across my community, and help get amazing candidates elected. I think it’s worth a shot for anyone who wants to help make the world better.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I just took a friend of mine around Colorado Springs, so I’ve got some places in mind!

The highlights are definitely worth hitting: Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak are two of the most beautiful places in the country, and are absolutely worth the time. The Pioneer Museum downtown is quick, beautiful, and just got air conditioning! And Colorado Springs is lucky to have some world class city parks. Pulpit Rock and Palmer Park are incredible hiking within city limits, and the hiking in the foothills is also worth the trip.

For food, the Skirted Heifer and Jack Quinn’s pub downtown are both great, and Old Colorado City and Manitou Springs have a ton of good local bars and restaurants. They’re also just beautiful gems of towns, absolutely worth a visit.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My parents! They took me canvassing in high school, encouraged me to get involved with local races, and have supported me every step of the way in my career. I love them both SO much, and I couldn’t be here without them.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-byron-2b313b134/