Thomas C. Patterson

Thomas C. Patterson (born August 18, 1945) is a former member of the Arizona State Senate and was chairman of the Goldwater Institute from 2000 to July 2015.^[2]

Thomas Patterson
Member of the Arizona Senate from the 26th district
In office January 1989 – January 1999
Preceded by	Peter Kay
Succeeded by	Tom Smith
Personal details
Born	(1945-08-18) August 18, 1945 (age 80)[1] Omaha, Nebraska
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Jeanne
Residence	Phoenix, Arizona
Profession	Politician

Patterson served five terms in the Senate from January 1989 through January 1999, representing district 26.^{[3]: vii [4]: vii [5]: vii [6]: vii [7]: vii} He served as minority leader from 1991 to 1992 and majority leader from 1993 to 1996. He did not run for re-election in 2000.^[8]

Patterson was the author of legislation creating Arizona's charter school system and welfare reform program. Until 1998, he was a practicing physician and president of Emergency Physicians, Inc.. Patterson also served as president of the Arizona chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians. He is a graduate of Yale University and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.