JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Former Florida State Sen. and State Rep. Tom Slade died Monday while being treated for heart failure at the Orange Park Medical Center. He was 78.
Slade was in critical condition. He was unable to be revived for a period of time before his death.
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Slade was the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida from 1993-1999. He started his political career as a state representative in 1962 as a Democrat. He changed his party affiliation to Republican and was then elected to State Senate in 1966. In 1990, he was elected vice chairman of the Florida Tax and Budget Commission.
In 2000, he was elected to serve a two-year term as a National Committeeman for the Republican Party of Florida and then served as the Chairman of the Duval County Republican Executive Committee from 2001-2003.
During the 1980s, Slade ran the successful northeast Florida campaigns for Connie Mack, George Bush and Bob Martinez.
Slade was also a successful businessman. He owned and operated several L.P. gas companies in northeast Florida and after a bid for the Chairman of the Republican National Committee in 1999, he formed Tidewater Consulting, a governmental relations and political consulting firm.
The Slade family is asking for thoughts and prayers. Details of services for Slade are pending.
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