Henry represented the Third District for five terms on the Fort Wayne City Council between 1984 and 2004. He was preceded by the Republican Roy Schomburg. Henry won re-election in 1995 by only five votes after the outcome was determined by a recount. He lost a bid for a sixth term in 2003.
Mayoral campaigns
Henry announced his bid for the Democratic nomination for mayor on February 21, 2007. He had considered running for mayor in 1999, but backed out and supported the Democratic challenger who went on to become mayor, Graham Richard. Henry won the Democratic mayoral primary on May 8, 2007, with 82.4 percent of the vote against token opposition. He defeated the Republican Matt Kelty in the November election, with 60 percent of the vote. Henry was reelected on November 8, 2011, with 49.9 percent of votes against the Republican challenger Paula Hughes' 46 percent. Henry defeated Republican challenger Mitch Harper on November 3, 2015, the first Democrat in Fort Wayne's history to win three consecutive mayoral terms. Henry won with 57% of the vote, receiving 23,769 votes to Harper's 18,067. On November 5, 2019 Tom Henry won the 2019 mayoral election, defeating Republican businessman, Tim Smith of MedPro Group. Henry won his fourth term as Mayor of Fort Wayne, Indiana and said his fourth term would be his last.
Mayoralty
On December 15, 2008, Henry signed the revised noise ordinance passed by city council, making light pollution a violation of city ordinance. "Although I have concerns about this ordinance, it is up to council to decide what legislative action is appropriate for our community," Henry said in a written statement. On December 9, Fort Wayne City Council voted 5–4 to pass a revised noise ordinance to include a section pertaining to improper use of directional lighting. Floodlights, bullet lights and spotlights must be focused away from a neighbor's home, or Fort Wayne Police can cite the offender if a complaint is made. Security lights are permissible. The amendment was introduced at the August 12 meeting by John Shoaff, D-at large, to end a dispute between two of his constituents, one of whom had allegedly been shining a directional light into the other's home. Henry said council should still work to hone the amendment so it can be enforced when necessary. " …This ordinance will be difficult to enforce as written and … certain exceptions to its provisions should be considered," Henry said in a statement. "Amongst the concerns raised were athletic events held in the evening, holiday light displays and emergency repair work, to name a few."
Personal life
Henry married Cindy née Kocks in 1975. They have two children and, as of 2009, two grandchildren. Henry and his family are Catholics and members of the Most Precious Blood Catholic Church.
