Jim Whelan
Jim Whelan (born November 8, 1948) is an American Democratic Party politician, who serves in the New Jersey General Assembly where he represents the 2nd legislative district, having taken office on January 10, 2006. 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.[1]
Whelan serves in the Assembly on the Tourism and Gaming Committee (as Vice Chairman) and on the Higher Education Committee.[2]
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. He rebounded from the loss to win 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.[2]
Whelan brought stability to a government wracked by waste, corruption and incompetence, reorganized city departments to clean
the streets, tear down abandoned buildings and cut the crime rate, even as he reduced the number of employees. Whelan is credited
with managing the spectacular growth of the city during the 1990s, balancing the needs of the casino industry with the concerns
of the people who lived there. He attracted more than $4.5 billion in new business starts and expansions that created thousands
of new jobs. His efforts to attract families back to the resort led to the resurgence of the city's neighborhoods, the
construction of new schools and hundreds of new housing units, and the redevelopment of the Northeast Inlet. His emphasis on the
need for non-casino attractions brought the
Following a defeat at the hands of Lorenzo Langford in 2001, Whelan has 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.[2]
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 2006-2008 term are:
- Assemblyman Francis J. Blee, and
- Senator James J. McCullough
References
- ^ 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."
- ^ a b c Assemblyman Whelan's Legislative Website, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed July 17, 2007.
External links
- Assemblyman Whelan's Legislative Website
- 2005 Whelan & Tyner campaign website
- Assembly Member James 'Jim' Whelan, Project Vote Smart
- New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure form for 2006 (PDF)
- New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure form for 2005 (PDF)
| Preceded by James L. Usry |
Mayor of
Atlantic City 1990–2001 |
Succeeded by Lorenzo T. Langford |
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