Meet Your Next Commissioner
Thomas J. De Luca – Nominee for Springfield Township Commissioner, 3rd Ward
Thomas J De Luca (he/him/his), known to most as TJ, is a professional musician, musicologist, and consultant. He has worked in a variety of fields from healthcare administration and patient advocacy, to non-profit and political consulting. He has also spent the greater part of 20 years as a successful, working musician. He’s a proud former union member of UNITE HERE Local 274, and the Washington-Baltimore News Guild – CWA Local 32035. TJ is the great-grandson of Emma DeLuca, founder of DeLuca Draperies, which she started in Springfield in the 1950’s.
TJ was born in Springfield Hospital, attended pre-school in his home parish of St. Kevin’s, and completed his K-12 education in Springfield School District, as part of the SHS class of 2005. He’s called Springfield’s 3rd Ward home for nearly all of his life, as have most of the DeLuca family since TJ’s grandparents, Bob and Jane DeLuca moved to Barker Rd. in 1961.
Currently, TJ is the Secretary of the Delaware County Democratic Committee, President Emeritus of the Pennsylvania Young Democrats, Vice-Chair of the Springfield Democratic Committee, and a Board Member of the Americans for Democratic Action Southeast Pennsylvania Chapter.
In 2020 TJ was a DNC Delegate for PA-5 (Delco, Montco, Chesco, Philadelphia), after being endorsed by President Joseph R. Biden’s campaign and elected by members of the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee. He was the second openly-LGBTQ+ President of the PA Young Dems, where he served from January 2020-January 2022.
Many people across the Philadelphia Region recognize TJ from his appearance on “The Mass” a weekly broadcasted Catholic Mass on 6ABC. He can regularly be found singing, playing piano or pipe organ at St. John the Evangelist, St. Kevin’s, and many other Catholic and Protestant churches in the Philadelphia region. He is a member of the American Guild of Organists Philadelphia & Southeastern PA Chapters, as well as the Association of Church Musicians in Philadelphia, and the National Association of Pastoral Musicians.
“I’ve seen first-hand how our community has grown and often struggled… It’s time for an independent, transparent, and diverse voice on our Board of Commissioners.”
— Thomas J De Luca, 3/1/2023 in his Campaign Announcement Press Release
Democratic Party Positions Held:
- Secretary – Delaware County Democratic Committee
- Vice Chair – Springfield Dems
- Elected Committeeperson – Springfield Dems (3rd Ward, 1st Precinct)
- President – PA Young Dems (2020-2022)
- 2020 DNC Delegate for PA’s 5th Congressional District
- Board Member – Americans for Democratic Action, Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter
- Mid-Atlantic Region Director – Young Democrats of America
- Member – PA Dems LGBTQ+ Caucus, Delco Young Dems, YDA Disability Issues Caucus, YDA LGBTQ+ Caucus
School & Work Notes:
- BM Jazz Studies & Vocal Performance – The University of the Arts (2019)
- Music Minister – St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church (Philadelphia)
- Regional Vice President – SCA, Inc. (2014-2015), 501(c)3 for historical recreation and research
- Volunteer – Project HOME, Food-for-Friends
- Member: Knights of Columbus, Our Lady of Lourdes Council #4500 (St. Kevin’s) and Cardinal Dougherty Assembly #913 (Delaware County).
- Member: American Guild of Organists (Southeast PA & Philadelphia), Association of Church Musicians in Philadelphia, National Association of Pastoral Musicians.