Described as a "former agriculturist turned teacher", he was an independent candidate for the Baegu/Asifola constituency in the August 2010 general election, and finished second of fourteen candidates, with 16.3% of the vote; he was defeated by the incumbent, independent MP Toswel Kaua.
Kaua died three months later, and Tome won the resulting by-election in March 2011, with 21.4% of the vote.
(His predecessor, Walter Folatalu, was reshuffled as Minister for Communication and Civil Aviation, replacing Andrew Hanaria who had lost his seat upon being found to have bribed voters.
)[5] On 1 March, Tome was reshuffled to the position of Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Services, left vacant by Clay Forau who had been promoted Minister for Foreign Affairs.
[6] On 22 October, Tome was reshuffled to the position of Minister for Agriculture.