Jake Wheatley

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Jake Wheatley
Jake Wheatley
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 19th district
In office
2003 – present
Political party Democratic
Residence Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Alma mater North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, University of Pittsburgh
Website www.pahouse.com/wheatley

Jake Wheatley is a Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. He represents the 19th district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives which includes a number of areas in the city of Pittsburgh including: the Hill District, North Side, South Side, Allentown, Hazelwood, Downtown Pittsburgh, The Bluff, Knoxville, Beltzhoover, Manchester, Arlington, Arlington Heights, West End and South and North Oakland.

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[edit] Personal

Wheatley graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Political Science from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and the University of Pittsburgh with a Masters in Public Administration.

Wheatley also served in the United States Marine Corps where his service included action in Operation Desert Storm. He was awarded with the Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal and Kuwaiti Liberation Medal

[edit] Political career

From 1998-2000, Wheatley served as executive assistant to Sala Udin, a politically powerful councilman at the time.

In 2002, with a support from Udin, Wheatley took on incumbent seven-term legislator Bill Robinson, who was a rival of Udin's. [1]

During the election, Robinson revealed that Wheatley had a 1992 conviction in Detroit, Michigan for larceny and assault and battery. [1] The Pennsylvania Constitution bars individuals convicted of "infamous crimes" to serve in public office. [2] Wheatley explained the conviction as a youthful indiscretion, and argued that the conviction in his native Detroit would not constitute a felony in Pennsylvania. [3]

In addition, Wheatley stated that the incident caused him to "redirect his life" [4]

Wheatley defeated Robinson with 55.1% of the vote in the Democratic primary election[5] and faced no opposition in the 2002 general election. [6] Ultimately, the state of Michigan expunged the record of Wheatley's conviction, removing any potential barriers to his service.[3]

Wheatley was re-elected in 2004 and 2006 with no opposition in either the primary or general elections. In 2006, Robinson, who had gone on to win a seat on the Pittsburgh City Council attempted a comeback, but withdrew after Wheatley won the party endorsement.

[edit] House service

Wheatley currently serves on four House committees, Appropriations, Health and Human Services Education and Transportation. He is the chairman of the Appropriations Subcomittee on Education and is only the second first-term legislator to serve on that committee. He also serves as Treasurer for the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, Vice Chair on the Democratic Policy Committee and Deputy Majority Whip for the House Democratic Caucus.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Anthony Todd Carlisle, Challenger's win shows Udin's power Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 5/25/02
  2. ^ Commonewealth Court of Pennsylvania, Bolus v. Fisher, 2001, citing Commonwealth v Shaver, 1842, page 6
  3. ^ a b Bruce Ledewitz, PENNSYLVANIA CONSTITUTION: COMMENTARY AND COMMENTS, Duquesne University School of Law
  4. ^ Anthony Todd Carlisle, Wheatley in lead against veteran Robinson in 19th Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 5/22/02
  5. ^ 2002 Primary Election Results, Pennsylvania Department of State, 5/21/02
  6. ^ General Election Results, Pennsylvania Department of State, 11/5/02

[edit] External links