Whelan

SCALERA/VOSS/WHELAN BILL PROMOTING AUTISM AWARENESS AMONG FIRST RESPONDERS ADVANCES

Bill Would Establish Autism Awareness Program for Emergency Medical Technicians, Police, Firefighters

(TRENTON) - A Senate panel today released legislation Assembly members Fred Scalera, Joan M. Voss, and Jim Whelan sponsored to establish an autism awareness training course for emergency medical technicians, police and firefighters.

(Atlantic City, NJ) – Assemblyman Jim Whelan, the Second District Democratic state Senate candidate, and his Assembly runningmates, Joe Kuehner and Blondell Spellman, today vowed to fight Republican Assemblyman Joe Pennacchio's proposal to amend the state constitution to legalize gambling in North Jersey by allowing slot machine wagering at horse and/or motor vehicle racetracks outside of Atlantic City. The 2nd district Democrats said they will launch a campaign to stop this politically motivated power grab that strikes at the heart of South Jersey's gaming and tourism industry.

Declaring himself to be "unbought and unbossed," Democratic Assemblyman James Whelan formally entered the race for State Senate today, announcing that he will challenge Republican incumbent James "Sonny" McCullough in November. Egg Harbor City Mayor Joseph Kuehner and former Claridge casino counsel Blondell Spellman will run for the State Assembly on Whelan's ticket.

McCullough, the Mayor of Egg Harbor Township, defeated Assembly Minority Whip Frank Blee in a February Special Election Convention for the 2nd district Senate seat. He replaced Bill Gormley, who served in the Senate from 1982 until his retirement last month. Blee has announced that he will not seek re-election to an eighth term in the Assembly, and has said he will back Whelan, the former Mayor of Atlantic City, for the Senate.

"I'm my own man and proud of my independence. I have stood up to Democrats and Republicans -- even to the legislative leadership of my own party -- in championing the needs of my constituents," Whelan said. "From the Wawa in Egg Harbor City to the White House sub shop in Atlantic City, people are saying 'enough is enough'."

It looks like New Jersey will have three competitive State Senate races: Republican incumbent James "Sonny" McCullough against Democratic Assemblyman James Whelan in the Atlantic County-based second district; Democratic incumbent Ellen Karcher vs. GOP Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck in the Monmouth-based twelfth; and for the open seat in the Mercer/Middlesex 14th, where Assemblyman Bill Baroni faces state Rate Counsel Seema Singh.  

Assembly Minority Whip Frank Blee will be asked to explain his apparent endorsement of Democratic State Senate candidates James Whelan at a closed-door meeting of the Assembly Republican Caucus. Several GOP legislators are concerned about Blee's support of a Democrat in a swing legisative district, and if he stands behind his previous statements, he could face pressure to step down from his leadership and committee posts.

Atlantic City radio personality Harry Hurley reports that Democrats will run Sheriff James McGettigan against Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson, and that the legislative candidates in the second district will be Assemblyman James Whelan for State Senate, and Egg Harbor City Mayor Joseph Kuehner and Blondell Spellman, a former Assistant General Counsel and the Director of Human Resources for the Claridge Hotel Casino, for Assembly.

Assembly Minority Whip Frank Blee says he would endorse Democrat James Whelan for State Senator over GOP incumbent Sonny McCullough.

Harry Hurley has the story right: Republican Assemblyman Frank Blee has had serious discussions with Democratic leaders about a party switch.  Democratic insiders confirm that they are talking to Blee about running for re-election to an eighth term as a Democrat.