[1] As a top level communist party official, he held several important positions in the leadership of the Estonian SSR.

From 1972 to 1990, Toome held various senior posts in the Estonian branch of the Soviet Young Communist League (Komsomol) and the regional organization of the Soviet Union's Communist Party in the Estonian SSR.

From 16 November 1988 until 3 April 1990, Toome was chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Estonian SSR, a position similar to head of provincial government, in then Soviet-controlled Estonia.

On 20 August 1991, he was one of the 69 members of the parliament[3] who declared the illegal Soviet occupation and annexation of the country terminated, and proclaimed the full restoration of the independence of Estonia.

In 1995, he was convicted by the Tallinn District and fined for an attempt to bribe officials of the Estonian Internal Security Service (KAPO).