Jim Whelan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jim Whelan
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| Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 2nd district |
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| In office January 8, 2008 – August 22, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | James J. McCullough |
| Succeeded by | Colin Bell |
| Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 2nd district |
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| In office January 10, 2006 – January 8, 2008 Serving with Francis J. Blee
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| Preceded by | Kirk W. Conover |
| Succeeded by | John F. Amodeo Vincent J. Polistina |
| Mayor of Atlantic City | |
| In office January 1, 1990 – December 31, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | James L. Usry |
| Succeeded by | Lorenzo Langford |
| Member of the Atlantic City Council | |
| In office January 1, 1982 – December 31, 1989 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | November 8, 1948 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | August 22, 2017 (aged 68) Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Kathy Whelan |
| Residence | Atlantic City |
| Alma mater | B.A. Temple University (English Education) M.Ed. Temple University |
| Occupation | Teacher |
| Website | Legislative web page |
Jim Whelan (November 8, 1948 – August 22, 2017) was an American politician from the Democratic Party. He served in the State Senate for New Jersey's 2nd Legislative District from 2008 until his death. Before that, he was the Mayor of Atlantic City.
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Early Life and Achievements
Jim Whelan was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He went to Temple University where he was a very talented swimmer. He was even ranked among the best distance swimmers in the country. Unfortunately, a broken leg during his last year of college ended his swimming career. However, his amazing achievements in swimming led to him being added to the Temple University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995. He also earned a master's degree from Temple University.
In 1978, Jim Whelan swam around Absecon Island by himself. He did this to help bring back the "Around the Island Swim," a long 22.5-mile open-water swimming race.
Political Career
Jim Whelan started working in the Atlantic City School District in 1977. He also volunteered his time to coach the Atlantic City High School swim team.
His journey into politics began in 1981 when he was elected to the Atlantic City Council. He was re-elected to the council in 1985. In 1989, he won the election to become the Mayor of Atlantic City by a large number of votes. He served three terms as mayor. During this time, he was also chosen to be the president of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors, which is a group for mayors across the state.
After his time as mayor ended in 2001, Whelan went back to teaching. He also served on the board of the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority, helping to promote tourism in the city.
Serving in the State Legislature
In 2005, Jim Whelan was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly, which is part of the state's legislature. He won the seat from a Republican, even though the district usually voted Republican.
In 2007, he ran for a seat in the New Jersey Senate and won, defeating the person who was already holding the seat. He was re-elected to the Senate in 2011 and again in 2013. His 2011 election was one of the most expensive races in the state, with a lot of money spent by both sides.
As a State Senator, Jim Whelan worked on several important committees. He was the chair of the State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee. He also served on the Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee and the Economic Growth Committee. These committees deal with laws about how the government works, healthcare, helping older people, and growing the economy.
On January 4, 2017, Senator Whelan announced that he planned to retire from his role as senator.
Representing District 2
Each of the 40 legislative districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one senator and two members of the New Jersey General Assembly. For the 2016-2017 legislative session, the other representatives from the 2nd Legislative District were:
- Chris A. Brown (Republican)
- Vince Mazzeo (Democrat)
Death and Legacy
Jim Whelan passed away on August 22, 2017, at the age of 68, due to a heart attack at his home in Atlantic City. He was survived by his wife, Kathy Whelan, and his son, Richard Whelan. To honor his memory and his contributions to the city, Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City was officially dedicated to him.
