Additional Information
House Committee Information
Committee Name: Ways and MeansPosition: Member
Committee Function:It shall be the duty of the Committee on Ways and Means to examine and consider the state of the treasury; to consider and report on all bills and resolutions relating to raising money by a state tax and the apportionment of same; matters relating to taxes and fees on tobacco; all dedicated funds except for the highway and turnpike funds; state fees, and all methods of raising revenue for the state; and such other matters as may be referred to it. The Committee on Ways and Means shall report to the House in the form of a resolution its estimates of state revenues on a periodic basis.
Personal Biography
Thomas Oppel is founder and President of the O2 Strategies consultancy and extensive experience in communications, management, government, politics and policy. For nearly three decades, Oppel created political media, messaging and strategy and managed campaigns on behalf of progressive causes and candidates. Prior to his campaign involvement, Oppel covered politics as a journalist in New England and the South. His career also includes service as Chief of Staff to the Navy Secretary in the Obama Administration, executive vice president at the American Sustainable Business Network, and Communications Director and Senior Advisor to former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus. He is married and has three children.
Local Government Involvement
Since first moving to Canaan in 2000, Thomas Oppel has served in a number of elected and volunteer positions in the community. He served on the Canaan Planning Board from 2005 to 2007 and was re-elected in 2021 to the board, on which he currently serves. In 2023, he helped found the Canaan Economic Development Committee, which he currently chairs. He also volunteered on a search committee for a new town administrator and a committee to consider a community center.
Towns Represented
Canaan, Dorchester, Orange