 Thompson was the Chairman of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee . He was the former Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Cities Committee , which oversaw all legislation impacting the state 's 62 incorporated cities and urban policy . This position was held by his two immediate predecessors in the Senate , Byron Brown and Marc Coppola . Thompson served on the Finance ; Commerce , Economic Development and Small Business ; Tourism , Recreation and Sports Development and Veterans , Homeland Security and Military Affairs committees . 
