Benjie E. Wimberly
Benjie Wimberly | |
|---|---|
| Speaker pro tempore of the New Jersey General Assembly | |
| Assumed office January 11, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Gordon M. Johnson |
| Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 35th district | |
| Assumed office January 10, 2012 Serving with Shavonda E. Sumter | |
| Preceded by | Elease Evans Nellie Pou |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 1, 1964 Paterson, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Kimberlynn |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Virginia State University (BA) |
| Website | Legislative website |
Benjie E. Wimberly (born December 1, 1964) is an American teacher and Democratic Party politician who represents the 35th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly. He was also the head coach of the football team at Hackensack High School and is serving as the recreation director of Paterson.
Education[]
Wimberly graduated from Passaic County Technical Institute in Wayne, New Jersey, and Virginia State University where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology.[1][2]
Football coach[]
Wimberly was an assistant coach for Eastside High School in Paterson from 1989 through 1994.[3] He then served as the head coach of the football team at Paterson Catholic High School from 1995 through 2010, when the school ceased operations.[3] In his last seven years at Paterson Catholic, Wimberly amassed a 70–3 win–loss record, and mentored Victor Cruz.[3] During his 16 years as coach, Paterson Catholic won seven state championships.[1] Wimberly became the head coach of the football team at Hackensack High School in 2012, succeeding Mike Miello.[1][3][4] He is also serving as Paterson's Recreation Director.[5]
Elective office[]
In 2010, Wimberly was elected to the Paterson city council.[1][5][6] Several of his former students volunteered for his campaign, as he courted the youth vote in a method similar to Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential election.[7]
Wimberly won election to the New Jersey General Assembly in 2011,[6] and was reelected in 2013.[8]
He serves on the following Assembly Committees: Telecommunications and Utilities (Vice-Chair), Budget, and Judiciary. He also serves on the Joint Committee on Economic Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity (as Co-Chair) and the Joint Committee on the Public Schools.[2]
Wimberly considered a run for mayor of Paterson in the 2014 election.[6]
District 35[]
Each of the 40 districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly. The representatives from the 35th District for the 2022—23 Legislative Session are:[9]
- Senator Nellie Pou (D)
- Assemblywoman Shavonda E. Sumter (D)
- Assemblyman Benjie E. Wimberly (D)
Personal life[]
Wimberly and his wife, Kimberlyn, have four children.[1] His oldest son Justin played high school football for Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey.[10]
References[]
- ^ a b c d e "Football: New Hackensack coach Benjie Wimberly to juggle range of positions". NorthJersey.com. March 1, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
- ^ a b Assemblyman Benjie E. Wimberly (D), New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 25, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Idec, Keith. "Hackensack expected to name Benjie Wimberly", The Record (Bergen County), February 22, 2012. Accessed November 6, 2013.
- ^ Jerry McCrea/The Star-Ledger. "State Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly hopes to right ship for Hackensack football program". NJ.com. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
- ^ a b Cunningham, Jennifer H. "Wimberly, Paterson’s recreation director, wins city council seat", The Record (Bergen County), May 11, 2012. Accessed May 3, 2012. "Running on a platform of safer streets and an improved quality of life, newcomer Benjie E. Wimberly, the city’s recreation director, swept to victory on the City Council, followed closely by incumbent Kenneth M. Morris Jr. and newcomer Kenneth D. McDaniel Jr."
- ^ a b c "Wimberly weighs mayoral run in Paterson". NorthJersey.com. October 15, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
- ^ "Young voters the difference". NorthJersey.com. May 18, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ "NJ-Winners". KansasCity.com. September 15, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ Legislative Roster for District 35, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2022.
- ^ Idec, keith. "Emptiness overtakes Wimberly", The Record (Bergen County), September 10, 2010. Accessed November 6, 2013. "Wimberly will see plenty of Don Bosco games, too. Two of his former players, junior safety/running back Elijah Shumate and sophomore defensive end Al-quadine Muhammad, transferred there. The eldest of Wimberly’s four sons, Justin, is a sophomore wide receiver for the national powerhouse as well."
External links[]
- New Jersey Legislature web page
- Profile at Vote Smart
Statewide political officials of New Jersey | ||
|---|---|---|
| U.S. senators |
|  |
| State government |
| |
| Senate |
| |
| General Assembly |
| |
| Supreme Court (appointed) |
| |
- Pages using Party stripe with other party
- 1964 births
- 20th-century African-American sportspeople
- 21st-century African-American politicians
- 21st-century American politicians
- African-American coaches of American football
- African-American state legislators in New Jersey
- Living people
- Members of the New Jersey General Assembly
- New Jersey city council members
- New Jersey Democrats
- Politicians from Paterson, New Jersey
- Virginia State University alumni