Jim Whelan
| Jim Whelan | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 2nd district |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2008 |
|
| Preceded by | James J. McCullough |
| Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 2nd district |
|
| In office 2006–2008 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 8, 1948 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Kathy |
| Residence | Atlantic City |
| Alma mater | B.A Temple University (English Education) M.Ed Temple University |
| Occupation | Teacher |
| Website | Legislative web page |
Jim Whelan (born November 8, 1948) is an American Democratic Party politician, who serves in the New Jersey State Senate where he represents the 2nd legislative district, having taken office on January 8, 2008.
Whelan was born in Philadelphia and attended Temple University where he became a nationally-ranked distance swimmer before a broken leg in his senior year cut short his career. His achievements, however, ultimately led to his induction in the Temple University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995. He received a M.Ed. from Temple University.[1]
In 1977, Whelan took a job in the Atlantic City School District. Four years later, he made his first foray into politics, making an unsuccessful run for the Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 1981. The following year, he won election to the Atlantic City Council, in 1982, and was re-elected in 1986. He won the mayor's office in a landslide in 1990. Whelan served three terms as Mayor of Atlantic City.[1]
Whelan was elected president of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors[citation needed].
Following a defeat at the hands of Lorenzo T. Langford in 2001, Whelan returned to teaching. He also served on the board of the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority.
Whelan was elected to the Assembly in November 2005, unseating Republican Kirk W. Conover, who had held the seat since 2003 in this Republican-leaning district.[2]
In 2007, Whelan won his bid for a seat in the New Jersey Senate, defeating Republican Party incumbent James J. McCullough.[3]
Whelan won re-election in November 2011, defeating Assemblyman Vincent J. Polistina in the state's most expensive race, with more than $3 million spent by both candidates.[4]
Whelan serves in the Senate on the Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee (as Chair), the Education Committee, the Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee and the State Government Committee.[1]
Contents |
[edit] District 2
Each of the forty legislative districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one Senator and two members of the New Jersey General Assembly. The other representatives from the 2nd Legislative District for the 2012-2013 (215th) Legislative Session are:
- Assemblyman John F. Amodeo (R)
- Assemblyman Chris A. Brown (R)
Towns Represented Absecon City, Atlantic City, Brigantine City, Buena Borough, Buena Vista Township, Egg Harbor City, Egg Harbor Township, Folsom Borough, Hamilton Township, Linwood City, Longport Borough, Margate City, Mullica Township, Northfield City, Pleasantville City, Somers Point City, Ventnor City
[edit] Election history
| New Jersey State Senate elections, 2011[5] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | |
| Democratic | Jim Whelan (incumbent) | 24,075 | 53.4% | |
| Republican | Vincent J. Polistina | 20,997 | 46.6% | |
| Democratic hold | ||||
| New Jersey State Senate elections, 2007[6] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | |||
| Democratic | Jim Whelan | 27,913 | 57.1% | |||
| Republican | James J. McCullough (incumbent) | 21,003 | 42.9% | |||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||||
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Assemblyman Whelan's Legislative web page, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed March 31, 2008.
- ^ Barlas, Thomas. "2ND DISTRICT ASSEMBLY / WHELAN GOING TO TRENTON / ABSENTEE BALLOTS MAY DETERMINE WHO WILL JOIN HIM", The Press of Atlantic City, November 9, 2005. Accessed August 8, 2007. "Unofficial vote totals show Whelan with 27,456 votes. Blee was in second place with 26,433 votes, and Democrat Damon Tyner was in third place with 24,162 votes. Conover brought up the rear with 21,666 votes."
- ^ Tamari, Jonathan. "Beck wins; Dems control both houses", Asbury Park Press, November 6, 2007. Accessed November 6, 2007. "Democrats, however, won two Senate seats in other traditionally Republican districts with victories by Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May, and Assemblyman Jim Whelan, D-Atlantic, who ousted Sen. Nicholas Asselta, R-Cumberland, and Sen. James Sonny McCullough, R-Atlantic."
- ^ Dopp, Terence; and Young, Elise. "Christie Says Election ‘No Big Shocker,’ Blames Political Map", Bloomberg Businessweek, November 9, 2011. Accessed January 7, 2012. "Senator Jim Whelan, a Democrat from Atlantic City who voted for the pension package, beat Republican Assemblyman Vince Polistina, 54 percent to 46 percent.... The Whelan-Polistina race was the most expensive in the state, with $3.8 million raised and $3.2 million spent through Oct. 25, election records show."
- ^ Official List Candidate Returns for State Senate For November 2011 General Election, New Jersey Department of State, December 14, 2011. Accessed January 7, 2012.
- ^ [1] "New Jersey Senate, (retrieved on 12/12/11).
[edit] External links
- State Senator Jim Whelan's Legislative web page, New Jersey Legislature
- New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms
- State Senator James 'Jim' Whelan, Project Vote Smart
| Preceded by James L. Usry |
Mayor of Atlantic City 1990–2001 |
Succeeded by Lorenzo T. Langford |
