Tom Suitt

Noah Thomas Suitt (September 30, 1936 – October 5, 2005) was an American businessman and politician from California and a member of the Democratic Party.^[1]

Tom Suitt
Official portrait, 1975
Member of the California State Assembly from the 29th district
In office December 2, 1974 – November 30, 1978
Preceded by	Raymond T. Seeley
Succeeded by	David G. Kelley
Personal details
Born	(1936-09-30)September 30, 1936 Lake Village, Arkansas
Died	October 8, 2005(2005-10-08) (aged 69) Palm Springs, California
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Jaqueline Helen Strauss ​ ​ (m. 1960)​
Children	4

A banker and real estate developer^[2] from Palm Springs, Suitt ran for the California State Assembly and unseated GOP incumbent Raymond T. Seeley in the post Watergate 1974 election that proved great for Democrats up and down the ballot.^[3] In 1976 he won reelection over Riverside County Supervisor Al McCandless but lost his bid for a third term in 1978 to Republican David G. Kelley, a year that turned out to be a great for down ballot Republicans.^[4]

Suitt also served as Chairman of the Board of Desert Regional Medical Center, was a founder of the Palm Springs Economic Development Corporation and was founder and former chairman of Canyon National Bank.^[5]

Electoral history

Member, California State Assembly: 1974-1978

Year	Office		Democrat	Votes	Pct		Republican	Votes	Pct
1974	California State Assembly District 75		Tom Suitt	40,561	50.9%		Raymond T. Seeley	39,132	49.1%
1976	California State Assembly District 75		Tom Suitt	63,218	56.9%		Al McCandless	47,825	43.1%
1978	California State Assembly District 75		Tom Suitt	42,191	42.3%		David G. Kelley	57,449	57.7%