John Thomaides was elected at-large to the San Marcos City Council on May 3, 2003 for a three year term in Place 6 and re-elected on Nov. 7, 2006.

 A native of Philadelphia, Pa., Mr. Thomaides has lived in San Marcos 16 years and is the owner of the Alpha Pure Water Company.  

Councilman Thomaides was named in 2005 to the Austin-San Antonio Commuter Rail Board and serves on its Executive Committee.

John Thomaides

  He also serves on the Executive Committee of the Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council headquartered in San Marcos.

He has served on the Minority Economic Development Board, Minority Tourism Development Board, Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Main Street Advisory board.

Active in civic affairs, he served on the City’s Drainage Advisory Board from 1999-2000; the Citizen Review Commission from 2000-2001, and the Transportation Advisory Board from 2001 to 2003 where he served as chair. He also represents the City Council on the Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors.

He is a leader in business and community organizations, serving as president of the San Marcos Tennis Association (1996-98), and as an Ambassador for the Area Chamber of Commerce (1995-present); as an Amigo for the Hispanic Chamber. He is a 2003 graduate of the Leadership Academy for Public Service.

 In January 2003 Mr. Thomaides was named “Small Business Person of the Quarter” by the Area Chamber of Commerce. The organization honored him as “Small Business Person of the Year” in October 2003.

Councilman Thomaides enjoys daily swims in the San Marcos River, tennis, golf, walking, bicycling, and yoga for fitness.

The Thomaides moved to San Marcos in 1993 to launch his water treatment business.

 Mr. Thomaides and his wife Julie have been married for 19 years. They are avid Major League Baseball fans—where he supports the Philadelphia Phillies and she backs the NY Mets.

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Thomaides Named to Corridor

Council Executive Committee

San Marcos Mayor Pro Tem John Thomaides has been appointed to the Executive Committee of the Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council headquartered at Texas State University in San Marcos.

Created in 1983, the Corridor Council is a private, non-profit corporation composed of contributing members from the region’s business and public sectors.  Charter membership included 25 local governments and more than 100 private firms and individuals. 

“I support the Corridor Council’s regional approach in preserving the quality of life of the Austin-San Antonio area,” Thomaides said. “My particular interests are in working on transportation, especially the commuter rail project, and economic development.”

Thomaides was elected at-large to the San Marcos City Council in 2003 for a three year term in Place 6. He was chosen as Mayor Pro Tem by the City Council last year.

He has served on the City’s Drainage Advisory Board from 1999-2000; the Citizen Review Commission from 2000-2001, and the Transportation Advisory Board from 2001 to 2003 where he served as chair. He also represented the City Council on the Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors and currently serves on the Main Street Advisory Board and the Minority Economic Development and Tourism Board.

Objectives of the corridor council include promotion of the region's economic development and coordinating long range planning to assure that growth provides the widest possible benefits to the region.

May 12, 2005

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Thomaides Joins Commuter Rail Board

San Marcos City Councilman John Thomaides has been appointed to represent San Marcos on the Austin-San Antonio Commuter Rail District Board of Directors.

In December, the San Marcos City Council allocated $49,500 to join the Commuter Rail District and named Councilman Thomaides as its representative on the board for the next two years.

“I look forward to representing the citizens of San Marcos and being their voice at the table for this very important transportation effort for the future,” Thomaides said.  “I see this initiative as an economic development plan, transportation plan, and mobility plan as well.”

The Austin-San Antonio Commuter Rail District was authorized by the Texas Legislature in 2003 to explore the feasibility of commuter rail between Georgetown and San Antonio. Travis and Bexar Counties and the cities of Austin and San Antonio initiated the creation of the district.

Commuter rail would offer passenger service to communities along the 110 mile corridor and potentially shift some of the Union Pacific freight traffic to a new rail line along State Highway 130 now under construction east of I-35.

“San Marcos and Texas State University have much to gain from commuter rail services,” Thomaides said. “I believe commuter rail will attract a large number of Texas State students who commute from Austin and San Antonio. I look forward to working with the university and student government in coordinating transportation from a rail station to and from campus.”

Thomaides added that the relocation of freight traffic to SH 130 and addition of commuter rail could reduce automobile traffic and significantly improve traffic flow in San Marcos, while providing a safe and efficient travel alternative for Central Texans.

“Moving hazardous freight traffic away from San Marcos neighborhoods and the San Marcos River is an important safety benefit of our participation in commuter rail,” Thomaides said.

The District’s board of directors is composed of elected and private sector officials who represent member cities and counties, regional planning agencies, and urban and rural transportation agencies in the Austin-San Antonio region.

The district is funded by Federal Transit Administration funds through the Texas Department of Transportation and by member contributions.

January 6, 2006

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