First elected to the House of Assembly on February 9, 1999 to represent the District of Harbour Main Whitbourne. Tom has served as Opposition Critic for Education (K 12), Parliamentary Assistant to the Leader of the Opposition and as Critic for Youth Services and Post Secondary Education. Re elected for a second term on October 21, 2003, Tom was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Education and Youth Services & Post Secondary Education. The department's name later changed to Education in the departmental restructuring on February 20, 2004. Mr. Hedderson was appointed Minister of Education October 1, 2004. Mr. Hedderson was appointed Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation on November 8, 2005.

Following the 2007 general election, on October 30, 2007, Mr. Hedderson was appointed Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister Responsible for the Volunteer and Non-Profit Sector.

Born on May 7, 1954 as the youngest son of Bernard and Josephine (nee Philpott). Tom is the youngest of nineteen a family of nine brothers and ten sisters. He married Rosemary, daughter of the late Richard and Nora Conway of Marysvale. As proud parents of Christa Marie and Julia Anne, the family reside in the community of Georgetown.

Tom graduated with Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) and Bachelor of Education (English) degrees from Memorial University of Newfoundland and a Master of Education (Psychology) from Mount Saint Vincent University in Nova Scotia.

He served as principal of Bishop O’Neill Collegiate in Brigus.

He is a past president of the Bay Roberts Branch of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association, a past vice-president of the NLSH Sports Federation and a past regional director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Home and School Federation (NLHSF) Sports Federation.

He has served as a coordinator of the Conception Bay North Volleyball Club, auditor of the Georgetown Recreation Committee, a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #65, and a member of Cabot Assembly.