In 2000, Hughes launched a campaign to become mayor of the city.
He ran against John Godsey on a platform of slower growth, including opposing the addition of the South Hillsboro urban reserve to be within the urban growth boundary.
Hughes also proposed televising the city council meetings during the campaign.
During the campaign, Hughes raised about $8,800 compared to Godsey’s approximately $6,000.
Major donors to Hughes' campaign included the firefighters' union, a teacher political action committee, and the Oregon League of Conservation Voters.
In the November general election Hughes defeated Godsey to win a four-year term as mayor, winning 61% of the vote.

Hughes took office on January 2, 2001, with priorities to increase the size of the Hillsboro Police Department and improve transportation.
The next year he called for more land for the city to accommodate growth and in hopes of adding a university to the area during his State of the City address.
Later that year he and other county leaders expressed dismay at Metro, the regional government, concerning the purchase of open spaces in the county using bond money approved by regional voters.
Hughes complained that the county and city were not receiving as much land as they should based on the tax amounts.
On May 29, 2003, he suffered a mild heart attack and had minor heart surgery at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center to undergo angioplasty and install a stent.

At the time, Providence Health System was looking to build a hospital in the city, and Hughes opposed the building of a new hospital that would compete with the only hospital in the city.
Hughes would have been taken to that hospital, Tuality Community Hospital, but the emergency room was full.
After three days in the hospital, Hughes was released and a week later took part in the demolition of a building.
He operated a track hoe to tear down part of the building as part of a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Hillsboro Civic Center that would serve as the new city hall.
During his first term as mayor, he also was the chairman of the Metro Policy Advisory Committee and worked to alleviate tensions over noise at the Hillsboro Airport.
In 2000, Hughes launched a campaign to become mayor of the city. He ran against John Godsey on a platform of slower growth, including opposing the addition of the South Hillsboro urban reserve to be within the urban growth boundary. Hughes also proposed televising the city council meetings during the campaign. During the campaign, Hughes raised about $8,800 compared to Godsey’s approximately $6,000. Major donors to Hughes' campaign included the firefighters' union, a teacher political action committee, and the Oregon League of Conservation Voters. In the November general election Hughes defeated Godsey to win a four-year term as mayor, winning 61% of the vote.
Hughes took office on January 2, 2001, with priorities to increase the size of the Hillsboro Police Department and improve transportation. The next year he called for more land for the city to accommodate growth and in hopes of adding a university to the area during his State of the City address. Later that year he and other county leaders expressed dismay at Metro, the regional government, concerning the purchase of open spaces in the county using bond money approved by regional voters. Hughes complained that the county and city were not receiving as much land as they should based on the tax amounts. On May 29, 2003, he suffered a mild heart attack and had minor heart surgery at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center to undergo angioplasty and install a stent.
At the time, Providence Health System was looking to build a hospital in the city, and Hughes opposed the building of a new hospital that would compete with the only hospital in the city. Hughes would have been taken to that hospital, Tuality Community Hospital, but the emergency room was full. After three days in the hospital, Hughes was released and a week later took part in the demolition of a building. He operated a track hoe to tear down part of the building as part of a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Hillsboro Civic Center that would serve as the new city hall. During his first term as mayor, he also was the chairman of the Metro Policy Advisory Committee and worked to alleviate tensions over noise at the Hillsboro Airport.
Tom Hughes (Oregon politician)