Jim Whelan

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 elected to the Assembly on November 8, 2005, unseating Republican Kirk W. Conover, who had held the seat since 2003 in this Republican-leaning district. [Barlas, Thomas. [http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_action=doc&p_docid=10DCB9E31EC4C520&p_docnum=14&p_queryname=NaN&p_product=NewsBank&p_theme=aggregated4&p_nbid=H5FD5FSWMTE4NTg0NzQ0OS4yODY4NjU6MTo3OnJhLTE4ODg "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."]

On November 6, 2007, Whelan won his bid for a seat in the New Jersey Senate, defeating Republican Party incumbent James J. McCullough. [Tamari, Jonathan. [http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071106/POLITICS/71106076 "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."]

Whelan serves in the Assembly 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. [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=301 Assemblyman Whelan's Legislative web page] , New Jersey Legislature. Accessed March 31, 2008.]

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.

Whelan was elected president of the New Jersey Conference of MayorsFact|date=November 2007.

Following a defeat at the hands of Lorenzo Langford in 2001, Whelan returned to teaching. He also serves on the board of the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority.

Jim 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.

District 2

Each of the forty districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly. The other representatives from the 2nd Legislative District for the 2008-2009 Legislative Session are:
*Assemblyman John F. Amodeo, and
*Assemblyman Vincent J. Polistina

References

External links

* [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=301 Assemblyman Whelan's Legislative web page] , New Jersey Legislature
*"New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms"
** [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2007.pdf 2007] [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2006.pdf 2006] [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2005.pdf 2005]
* [http://www.whelantyner.com/ 2005 Whelan & Tyner campaign website]
* [http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=58070 Assembly Member James 'Jim' Whelan] , Project Vote Smart