Jim Whelan

State Sen. Ray Lesniak was the kingmaker in the race for Senate Majority LeaderThe surging south got a seat at the table today, with third district state Sen. Stephen Sweeney chosen as majority leader after a hard fought, emotional battle with state Sen. Paul Sarlo.

Although the decision-making process was closed and the official decision was unanimous, sources say that Sweeney had the support of 14 of the 23 member caucus. Backing Sweeney were the expected south Jersey contingent -- Jeff Van Drew, Jim Whelan, Fred Madden, Dana Redd and John Adler. But he also had support from Senators from the rest of the state -- Brian Stack, Sandra Bolden Cunningham, Barbara Buono, Nicholas Scutari, Bob Smith, Ray Lesniak, Joe Vitale and Loretta Weinberg.

If Atlantic County Republicans picked seven-term Assemblyman Frank Blee for the State Senate last February, instead of Sonny McCullough, would Jim Whelan still have won?

A Zogby poll conducted for the Press of Atlantic City and Richard Stockton State College shows Democrat James Whelan leading GOP State Sen. Sonny McCullough by a 50%-37% margin, and the race between Republican State Sen. Nicholas Asselta and Democrat Jeff Van Drew to be a statistical dead heat.

Van Drew, a three-term Assemblyman, leads Asselta by a 45%-42% margin. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 5%.

WHELAN, WILKINS & SPELLMAN LAUNCH

'LEAVE NO VOTER BEHIND' TOUR

“With a plea of guilty to public corruption by another Callaway today, voters in Atlantic County should recall that Democrat Assemblyman Jim Whelan voted to block consideration of major reforms in public officials’ ethics laws,” Atlantic County Republican chairman Keith A. Davis said today.

www.thecaseagainstwhelan.com

Callaway Ally Still Sits on Atlantic County Board of Elections

Press of Atlantic City, Editorial

2ND DISTRICT SENATE RACE
** Elect James Whelan

October 28, 2007

"...we believe Democratic state Assemblyman James Whelan is better able to fill the role than his opponent, state Sen. James "Sonny" McCullough."

Gov. Jon Corzine campaigns in Atlantic City for Team Whelan on Sunday.

The Absecon Channel separates Brigantine from Atlantic City in this world of salt water and low-slung housing broken up by tragicomic human silos with names like Taj and Showboat.

But it’s all the same battlefield here in the 2nd district, where forces are mobilizing for Sen. (and Egg Harbor Township Mayor) James "Sonny" McCullough or Assemblyman James Whelan.

In Atlantic City, a second tall and bearded politician joins Team Whelan today in a senior citizens complex on Atlantic Avenue. It’s Gov. Jon Corzine, who knows seniors are a critical voting block, particularly in an off-election year like this, and he’s working the older crowd overtime with his best up-close-and-personal demeanor.

Amidst the chaos of the Atlantic City power struggle for who will become the next mayor, Assemblyman/state Senate candidate Jim Whelan is calling for the state to look into ways of helping the city while it suffers through “governmental paralysis.”

Whelan wants the Office of Legislative Services to draw up plans to stabilize the government, especially in its casino-related functions.