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DELAWARE COUNTY COUNCIL
JOHN J. WHELAN
Delaware County Council Chairman
John J. “Jack” Whelan serves as Chairman of Delaware County Council, which oversees the county government operations that serve the 550,000 residents of Delaware County.
An attorney from Ridley Township, Mr. Whelan was elected to a four-year term on County Council in 2005, was re-elected to a second four-year term in 2009 and took the oath office in January 2010. He is one of five Council members who are responsible for the many services that benefit Delaware County residents, including Veterans Affairs, Parks and Recreation, the County Office of Services for the Aging, Library Services and the County’s outstanding 911 Center.
During his time on Council, he has been honored by several groups for outstanding leadership and public service, including the Delaware County Library System’s Outstanding Public Official award, and the Delaware County Victims’ Rights Week Award, both presented in the spring of 2009.
In recognition of a personal act of bravery by Mr. Whelan, he received a Citizenship Award from the Ridley Township Board of Commissioners, recognition by the Delaware County Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation, as well as the Citizens Crime Commission Award for Bravery, presented in 2009.
A graduate of Temple University School of Law, he is a partner in the law firm of Whelan, Doyle and Pressman. He also has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Temple University.
He has a keen interest in law enforcement and criminal justice. He was a Delaware County Assistant District Attorney from 1986-1991, serving as a trial team leader. He prosecuted many defendants for capital offenses as well as for other felonies and misdemeanors.
Mr. Whelan has served as chairman of the Police and Public Safety Committee in Ridley Township for 10 years.
As a member of County Council, he partners with the District Attorney’s office on many crime-prevention initiatives, such as the Senior Exploitation Unit, the Safe Schools Summit, and the RSAN and Delco Alert systems, which provide emergency notification to people through their mobile and electronic devices.
He is an advocate for the revitalization of Delaware County’s “first-generation” communities that give the county such a rich history, and he works hard to ensure that Delaware County is positioned for continued economic growth, ensuring the county will be a great place to live, work and play for generations to come.
Mr. Whelan is also proactive in the County’s efforts to ensure that increased air traffic at Philadelphia International Airport does not have a negative impact on the safety and quality of life in Delaware County communities.
He and his wife, Peggy, live in Ridley Township with their four children.