Jake Wheatley

Infobox State Representative


name = Jake Wheatley, Jr.
caption =
state_house = Pennsylvania
district = 19th
term_start = January 7, 2003
term_end =
predecessor = William Russell Robinson
successor = Incumbent
party = Democratic
birth_date =
birth_place =
residence = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
religion =
alma_mater = North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University University of Pittsburgh
occupation =
spouse =
website =
allegiance = flag|United States
branch = United States Marine Corps
serviceyears = 1989 — 1992
battles = Gulf War
awards = Combat Action Ribbon Kuwaiti Liberation Medal National Defense Service Medal

Jake Wheatley, Jr. is a Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. He represents the 19th district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives which includes a number of areas in the city of Pittsburgh including: the Hill District, North Side, South Side, Allentown, Hazelwood, Downtown Pittsburgh, The Bluff, Knoxville, Beltzhoover, Manchester, Arlington, Arlington Heights, West End and South and North Oakland.

Personal

Wheatley graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Political Science from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and the University of Pittsburgh with a Masters in Public Administration.

Wheatley also served in the United States Marine Corps where his service included action in
Operation Desert Storm. He was awarded with the Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal and Kuwaiti Liberation Medal

Political career

From 1998-2000, Wheatley served as executive assistant to Sala Udin, a politically powerful councilman at the time.

In 2002, with a support from Udin, Wheatley took on incumbent seven-term legislator Bill Robinson, who was a rival of Udin's. [http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_73170.html Anthony Todd Carlisle, "Challenger's win shows Udin's power" Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 5/25/02] ]

During the election, Robinson revealed that Wheatley had a 1992 conviction in Detroit, Michigan for larceny and assault and battery. The Pennsylvania Constitution bars individuals convicted of "infamous crimes" to serve in public office. [ [http://www.aopc.org/OpPosting/cwealth/out/325MD01.pdf Commonewealth Court of Pennsylvania, "Bolus v. Fisher", 2001, citing "Commonwealth v Shaver", 1842, page 6] ] Wheatley explained the conviction as a youthful indiscretion, and argued that the conviction in his native Detroit would not constitute a felony in Pennsylvania. [http://www.paconstitution.duq.edu/PAC_CONST_COMMENTARY.html Bruce Ledewitz, PENNSYLVANIA CONSTITUTION: COMMENTARY AND COMMENTS, Duquesne University School of Law] ]

In addition, Wheatley stated that the incident caused him to "redirect his life" [ [http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_72671.html Anthony Todd Carlisle, "Wheatley in lead against veteran Robinson in 19th" Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 5/22/02] ]

Wheatley defeated Robinson with 55.1% of the vote in the Democratic primary election [ [http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=6&OfficeID=13 2002 Primary Election Results, Pennsylvania Department of State, 5/21/02] ] and faced no opposition in the 2002 general election. [ [http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=7&OfficeID=13 General Election Results, Pennsylvania Department of State, 11/5/02] ] Ultimately, the state of Michigan expunged the record of Wheatley's conviction, removing any potential barriers to his service.

Wheatley was re-elected in 2004 and 2006 with no opposition in either the primary or general elections. In 2006, Robinson, who had gone on to win a seat on the Pittsburgh City Council attempted a comeback, but withdrew after Wheatley won the party endorsement.

House service

Wheatley currently serves on four House committees, Appropriations, Health and Human Services Education and Transportation. He is the chairman of the Appropriations Subcomittee on Education and is only the second first-term legislator to serve on that committee. He also serves as Treasurer for the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, Vice Chair on the Democratic Policy Committee and Deputy Majority Whip for the House Democratic Caucus.

References

External links

* [http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/house_bio.cfm?id=1026 Pennsylvania House of Representatives - Jake Wheatley] official PA House website
*"Follow the Money" - Jake Wheatley
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=88640 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=65112 2004] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=13798 2002] campaign contributions
* [http://www.pahouse.com/Wheatley/ Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus - Rep. Jake Wheatley] official Party website