He could summarize others’ views and structure a logical alternative.”Mr Thomas, a former Liberal Democrat group leader, moved to York with his family in 1971, when he accepted the position of head of department at York College. He was elected to Ryedale District Council in 1983, topping the poll at an election which saw massive gains for the then Liberal/Alliance. Mr Thomas was a mainstay of the new, City of York Council, as a shadow authority in 1995/6, and during its first term to 1999, acting as deputy Liberal Democrat Leader and the party’s spokesperson for education. He was the first Liberal Democrat Sheriff of the new authority in 1997/8. Mr Thomas was appointed a Justice of the Peace on the York City Bench in 1976, serving for over 20 years.