As the City of Carlsbad’s first staff writer, Tom works with city staff to make sure their City Council staff reports are clear, accurate and effective. He also writes and edits the city’s responses to inquiries to the City Council and other communications intended for community members. Tom was a news editor in Los Angeles and San Diego. He covered local government and crime for the Los Angeles Daily News and held a range of editing roles at The San Diego Union-Tribune, leading the coverage of legal affairs, public safety, investigations, the border and immigration, as well as managing the weekend report and the website. Tom also writes fictitious articles and other written materials to be used as props in movies, including one article about Bruce Wayne and 22 pages of rules for pirates.