Cecil Thomas currently serves as the State Representative for Ohio District 25. He was first elected in 2022 and is serving his 1st term. He previously served 2 terms as the State Senator for Ohio's 9th Senate district from 2014-2022. He ran for Mayor of Cincinnati in 2021, but did not win.

Cecil worked as the executive director of the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission. Before that he was an officer for the Cincinnati Police Department.

Cecil is originally from rural Alabama but moved to Cincinnati at a young age and attended Withrow High School. He has a bachelor's degree in law enforcement technology from the University of Cincinnati and a bachelors degree in criminal justice management from Union Institute & University. He currently lives in North Avondale with his wife Pam, and together they have 4 adult children. He is a member of the Fraternal Order of Police and the Sentinel Police Association, a member of the Masonic Gothic Lodge 121, and serves as the Vice President of the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the National Action Network.