Point man could be Hottest Husband in U.S.

STEVENS POINT – Brenda Thomas of Stevens Point thinks her husband, Jeff, is pretty hot.

She has thought so since the two met in high school, where both played in the band. And after more than 20 years of marriage and raising two sons, she remains convinced he's one of the hottest guys — maybe even the hottest — that she knows.

Now, the rest of the world will get to decide whether she is right. If her husband wins, the two will win an all-expenses-paid tropical vacation as a reward.

Brenda entered Jeff in Redbook magazine's America's Hottest Husband contest earlier this year. In August, she learned he was a finalist.

"Let's make this clear: I had no idea," Jeff Thomas said of his wife's efforts. "She hasn't stopped smiling."

Stevens Point's candidate in the Hottest Husband running grew up in the area and earned a degree in music from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He used his degree while working various jobs, such as serving as the music director for a church in Oconomowoc and running an online music store.

In his mid-30s, Jeff Thomas was ready for a career switch and started training to work the career path he'd wanted to pursue in his 20s: law enforcement.

He enrolled at Mid-State Technical College to earn his certification and today works as a patrol officer for the Plover Police Department.

"Going to high-stress situations and helping out in accidents," he said, "the work itself is what attracted me more than anything."

Brenda Thomas said it's more than just her husband's looks that make him a good choice for America's hottest husband.

"He's giving to people, watching out for everybody else before himself," she said. "He's my best friend."

The Thomas family said it is going to use social media to encourage people to vote for Jeff in the contest.

"We're thinking of a sign campaign, you know, like in the sheriff's race you saw the signs everywhere," Jeff Thomas joked.

He said he is not promoting himself as a candidate in the contest to his co-workers or friends.

"I'm letting them take care of it," he said.

Redbook magazine did not return repeated requests from Stevens Point Journal Media to provide contest details or voting rules.

Voting began Wednesday, and the online ballot is available on Redbook's website.

Sari Lesk can be reached at 715-345-2257. Follow her on Twitter as @Sari_Lesk.