Thomas M. Middleton

Thomas McLain "Mac" Middleton (born September 1, 1945) is an American politician from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. He is currently serving in his 4th term in the Maryland State Senate, representing Maryland's District 28 in southern Charles County. Middleton chairs the Senate's Finance Committee and is often mentioned as a possible successor to Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr.

Background
Middleton grew up in La Plata, Maryland and attended Charles County Community College and Mount St. Mary's College before entering the United States Army. After his service in the United States Army (1968–1971), Middleton became the owner and operator of Cedar Hill Farm near Waldorf, Maryland.

Political career
Middleton's political career began when he was appointed to a four-year term on the Charles County Planning Commission. In 1986, he became a member of the Charles County Commission, the local legislative body for the county. He won a seat in the State Senate in the 1994 election. Middleton is the Chair of the Senate's powerful Finance Committee. He has been mentioned as a possible successor to current Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr.

In 2005 and 2006, he co-chaired the Special Committee on Employee Rights and Protections. This panel was reportedly created to investigate state government employment actions. The administration of Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., criticized the effort as a “partisan witch hunt,”and a minority report claimed that “the committee’s 13-month investigation of the Ehrlich administration was unnecessary, expensive and fruitless.”

Democratic Party activist
In February 2008, Middleton endorsed the candidacy of Barack Obama for president of the United States.