While he won the primary in early September, he did not receive a majority of the votes, forcing a runoff at the beginning of October.

[8] Thomas finished his last legislative session in May 2000 and would have retired after the November elections that same year, due to term limits, however, he died from cancer in June.

[citation needed] The St. Petersburg Times called him a "courteous, gracious Southern gentleman who rarely expressed anger or partisanship in an arena that is often filled with both."

The Times went on to quote Governor Jeb Bush called Thomas "a highly respected legislator" whose "good nature and passion for life and public service endeared him to so many."

While House Speaker John Thrasher said of Thomas: "In an environment that can often be tense and partisan, he never forgot the overriding importance of friendship, regardless of party affiliation.

In 1996, Thomas plotted with then Governor Lawton Chiles and Senator Childers to save a law that helped the state file suit against tobacco companies on behalf of Medicaid patients.