{{Short description|American politician}} {{about|the New Jersey politician|the Australian rules footballer|Jim Whelan (footballer)|the American football player|Jim Whalen}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Jim Whelan | image = Sen Whelan HQ headshot.jpg | caption = Official portrait, 2006 | state_assembly2 = New Jersey | state_senate1 = New Jersey | district1 = [[New Jersey's 2nd legislative district|2nd]] | district2 = [[New Jersey's 2nd legislative district|2nd]] | term_start2 = January 10, 2006 | term_end2 = January 8, 2008 | alongside2 = [[Francis J. Blee]] | preceded2 = [[Kirk W. Conover]] | succeeded2 = [[John F. Amodeo]]<br>[[Vincent J. Polistina]] | term_start1 = January 8, 2008 | term_end1 = August 22, 2017 | preceded1 = [[James J. McCullough]] | succeeded1 = [[Colin Bell (American politician)|Colin Bell]] | office3 = [[Mayor of Atlantic City]] | term_start3 = January 1, 1990 | term_end3 = December 31, 2001 | preceded3 = [[James L. Usry]] | succeeded3 = [[Lorenzo Langford]] | office4 = Member of the [[Atlantic City, New Jersey|Atlantic City]] Council | term_start4 = January 1, 1982 | term_end4 = December 31, 1989 | birth_date = {{Birth date|1948|11|8|mf=y}} | birth_place = [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|08|22|1948|11|8}} | death_place = [[Atlantic City, New Jersey|Atlantic City]], [[New Jersey]], U.S. | spouse = Kathy Whelan | party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | relations = | children = | alma_mater = B.A. [[Temple University]] (English Education)<br>M.Ed. [[Temple University]] | occupation = Politician, [[Teacher]] | website = [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=301 Legislative web page] }}

'''James "Jim" Whelan''' (November 8, 1948 – August 22, 2017) was an American [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] [[politician]], who served in the [[New Jersey]] [[New Jersey State Senate|State Senate]] where he represented the [[New Jersey's 2nd legislative district|2nd Legislative District]], from January 8, 2008, until his death.

==Early life== Whelan was born in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]] 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 [[Master of Education|M.Ed.]] from Temple University.<ref name=NJLEG/>

==Political career== In 1977, Whelan took a job in the [[Atlantic City School District]]. During this time{{emdash}}on a volunteer basis{{emdash}}he helped coach the Atlantic City High School swim team. In 1978, to draw publicity for a bid to restore the Around the Island Swim<ref>{{cite web |url=http://db.marathonswimmers.org/events/atlantic-city-around-the-island-swim/ |title = Atlantic City Around the Island Swim - results index {{!}} LongSwims Database}}</ref> (a 22.5 mile open-water swimming race around Absecon Island), Whelan did the race solo.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/communities/atlantic-city_pleasantville_brigantine/everyone-has-a-story-avalon-summer-resident-swims-around-absecon/article_3f9c4172-f7d0-11e2-bef3-0019bb2963f4.html | title=Everyone Has a Story: Avalon summer resident swims around Absecon Island for cancer research | date=July 28, 2013 }}</ref>

Four years later, he made his first foray into politics, making an unsuccessful run for the [[Atlantic County, New Jersey|Atlantic County]] [[Board of County Commissioners (New Jersey)|Board of Chosen Freeholders]] in 1980. The following year, he won election to the [[Atlantic City, New Jersey|Atlantic City]] Council, in 1981, and was re-elected in 1985. He won the mayor's office in a landslide in 1989. Whelan served three terms as [[List of mayors of Atlantic City, New Jersey|Mayor of Atlantic City]].<ref name=NJLEG/>

Whelan was elected president of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors{{Citation needed|date=November 2007}}.

Following a defeat at the hands of [[Lorenzo Langford (politician)|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 Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Kirk W. Conover]], who had held the seat since 2003 in this Republican-leaning district.<ref>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."</ref>

In 2007, Whelan won his bid for a seat in the [[New Jersey Senate]], defeating [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] incumbent [[James J. McCullough]].<ref>Tamari, Jonathan. [http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071106/POLITICS/71106076 "Beck wins; Dems control both houses"]{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''[[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."</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news|last1 = Dopp|first1= Terence|last2= Young|first2= Elise|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111112033717/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-09/christie-says-election-no-big-shocker-blames-political-map.html |url = http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-09/christie-says-election-no-big-shocker-blames-political-map.html|archive-date = November 12, 2011|title = Christie Says Election 'No Big Shocker,' Blames Political Map|work =[[Bloomberg Businessweek]]|date = November 9, 2011|quote =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.}}</ref> In the 2013 election, Whelan defeated Atlantic County [[Sheriff]] Frank X. Balles 55%–45%.<ref name=2013ElectionNews>{{cite news |url=http://patch.com/new-jersey/galloway/new-jersey-election-2013-incumbent-whelan-fends-off-balles |title=New Jersey Election 2013: Incumbent Whelan Fends Off Balles |newspaper=Galloway Patch |date=November 5, 2013 |author= Bellano, Anthony |accessdate=July 3, 2015}}</ref>

Whelan served in the Senate on the State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee (as chair); the Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee; and the Economic Growth Committee.<ref name="NJLEG">[http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=301 Senator Whelan's Legislative web page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411181508/http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=301 |date=April 11, 2008 }}, [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed December 28, 2016.</ref>

On January 4, 2017, Whelan announced that he was planning to retire as senator.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Huba|first1=Nicholas|title=State Senator Jim Whelan will not seek re-election|url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/state-senator-jim-whelan-will-not-seek-re-election/article_4a4e0275-df93-5707-994d-ee09c88fa54b.html|website=[[The Press of Atlantic City]]|accessdate=August 23, 2017|date=January 4, 2017}}</ref>

===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. The other representatives from the 2nd Legislative District for the 2016-2017 (217th) Legislative Session are:<ref>[http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/roster.asp Legislative Roster 2016-2017 Session] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102235629/http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/roster.asp |date=November 2, 2013 }}, [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed December 28, 2016.</ref> *Assemblyman [[Chris A. Brown]] (R) *Assemblyman [[Vince Mazzeo]] (D)

===Electoral history=== {{incomplete list|date=July 2015}} {{Election box begin no change | title= New Jersey State Senate elections, 2013<ref name=Results2013>{{cite web |url=http://www.njelections.org/2013-results/2013-official-general-election-results-state-senate.pdf |title=Official List Candidates for State Senate For GENERAL ELECTION 11/05/2015 Election |publisher=[[Secretary of State of New Jersey]] |date=December 4, 2013 |accessdate=July 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704151019/http://www.njelections.org/2013-results/2013-official-general-election-results-state-senate.pdf |archive-date=July 4, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Jim Whelan ([[incumbent]]) |votes = 29,333 |percentage = 55.0% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Frank X. Balles |votes = 24,006 |percentage = 45.0% }} {{Election box hold with party link without swing| |winner = Democratic Party (United States) }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title= New Jersey State Senate elections, 2011<ref name=Results2011>[http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2011-official-gen-elect-state-senate-results-121411.pdf Official List Candidate Returns for State Senate For November 2011 General Election] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713071730/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2011-official-gen-elect-state-senate-results-121411.pdf |date=July 13, 2012 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]], December 14, 2011. Accessed January 7, 2012.</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Jim Whelan (incumbent) |votes = 24,075 |percentage = 53.4% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = [[Vincent J. Polistina]] |votes = 20,997 |percentage = 46.6% }} {{Election box hold with party link without swing| |winner = Democratic Party (United States) |loser = Republican Party (United States) }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title= New Jersey State Senate elections, 2007<ref>[http://njelections.org/election-results/2007-official-general-election-tallies(ss)-12.3.07.pdf Official List Candidate Returns for State Senate For November 2007 General Election] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822234540/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2007-official-general-election-tallies(ss)-12.3.07.pdf |date=August 22, 2012 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]], December 3, 2007. Accessed June 21, 2012.</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Jim Whelan |votes = 27,913 |percentage = 57.1% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = [[James J. McCullough]] (incumbent) |votes = 21,003 |percentage = 42.9% }} {{Election box gain with party link without swing| |winner = Democratic Party (United States) |loser = Republican Party (United States) }} {{Election box end}}

==Death== Whelan died on August 22, 2017, at age 68 from a heart attack at his home in Atlantic City.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jackson|first1=Vincent|last2=Huba|first2=Nicholas|title=Sen. Jim Whelan suffered heart attack at Atlantic City home|url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/sen-jim-whelan-suffered-heart-attack-at-atlantic-city-home/article_3905230c-3783-55c6-8e4c-492bc37b4e62.html|website=[[The Press of Atlantic City]]|accessdate=August 23, 2017|date=August 23, 2017}}</ref> Whelan was survived by his wife Kathy Whelan and his son Richard Whelan, who successfully pushed to get Atlantic City's [[Boardwalk Hall]] officially dedicated to his memory.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.boardwalkhall.com/arena-information/arena-history |title=Arena History |publisher=Boardwalk Hall |accessdate=November 29, 2020 |archive-date=March 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328234352/http://www.boardwalkhall.com/arena-information/arena-history |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=301 State Senator Jim Whelan's Legislative web page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411181508/http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=301 |date=April 11, 2008 }}, [[New Jersey Legislature]] *''New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms'' **[http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2016.pdf 2016]{{Dead link|date=March 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }} [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2015.pdf 2015] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620225252/http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2015.pdf |date=June 20, 2016 }} [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2014.pdf 2014] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620225251/http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2014.pdf |date=June 20, 2016 }} [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2013.pdf 2013] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620225249/http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2013.pdf |date=June 20, 2016 }} [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2012.pdf 2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620225248/http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2012.pdf |date=June 20, 2016 }} [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2011.pdf 2011] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914205815/http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2011.pdf |date=September 14, 2015 }} [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2010.pdf 2010] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902001744/http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2010.pdf |date=September 2, 2012 }} [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2009.pdf 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829062031/http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2009.pdf |date=August 29, 2012 }} [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2008.pdf 2008] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829062049/http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2008.pdf |date=August 29, 2012 }} [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2007.pdf 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606175112/http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2007.pdf |date=June 6, 2011 }} [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2006.pdf 2006] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309014358/http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2006.pdf |date=March 9, 2008 }} [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2005.pdf 2005] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061015003654/http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/WhelanJ2005.pdf |date=October 15, 2006 }} *[http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=58070 State Senator James 'Jim' Whelan], [[Project Vote Smart]]

{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-nj-sen}} {{s-bef|before=[[James J. McCullough]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[New Jersey Senate]]<br>from the [[New Jersey's 2nd legislative district|2nd]] district|years=January 8, 2008 – August 22, 2017}} {{s-aft|after=[[Colin Bell (American politician)|Colin Bell]]}} |- {{s-par|us-nj-hs}} {{s-bef|before=[[Kirk W. Conover]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[New Jersey General Assembly|New Jersey Assembly]]<br>from the [[New Jersey's 2nd legislative district|2nd]] district|years=January 10, 2006 – January 8, 2008|alongside=[[Francis J. Blee]]}} {{s-aft|after=[[John F. Amodeo]]|after2=[[Vincent J. Polistina]]}} |- {{s-off}} {{succession box | before=[[James L. Usry]] | title=[[List of mayors of Atlantic City, New Jersey|Mayor of Atlantic City]] | years=1990&ndash;2001 | after=[[Lorenzo Langford (politician)|Lorenzo T. Langford]]}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Whelan, Jim}} [[Category:1948 births]] [[Category:2017 deaths]] [[Category:Politicians from Philadelphia]] [[Category:American male swimmers]] [[Category:Mayors of Atlantic City, New Jersey]] [[Category:Democratic Party members of the New Jersey General Assembly]] [[Category:New Jersey city council members]] [[Category:Democratic Party New Jersey state senators]] [[Category:Temple University alumni]] [[Category:20th-century mayors of places in New Jersey]] [[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]] [[Category:21st-century members of the New Jersey Legislature]]