Background
Whelan was born in Philadelphia and attended Temple University where he became a nationally ranked distance swimmer before a broken leg in his senior year cut short his career.
Whelan was born in Philadelphia and attended Temple University where he became a nationally ranked distance swimmer before a broken leg in his senior year cut short his career.
Bachelor in English Education. Master of Education, Temple University.
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 1980. Whelan served three terms as Mayor of Atlantic City.
Whelan was elected president of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors.
Following a defeat at the hands of 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 Kirk West. Conover, who had held the seat since 2003 in this Republican-leaning district. In the 2013 election, Whelan defeated Atlantic County Sheriff Frank X. Balles 55%–45%.
Whelan serves in the Senate on the State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee (as Chair).
The Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. And the Environment and Energy Committee. District 2
The other representatives from the 2nd Legislative District for the 2014-2015 (216th) Legislative Session are:
Assemblyman Chris A. Brown (R)
Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo (Doctorate)
Election history.
Each of the forty legislative districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one Senator and two members of the New Jersey General Assembly.