James N. Mathias, Jr
Encyclopedia
Jim Mathias is an American politician from Ocean City, Maryland
who serves in the Maryland State Senate
. He was formerly a member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from 2006 to 2010.
, was born on September 2, 1951 in Baltimore, Maryland. During his childhood, he lived in Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Carroll County, Maryland
. He attended high school at Calvert Hall College
in Towson
, graduating in 1969. In 1974, Jim Mathias graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.
Mathias first came to Ocean City as a child, with his parents for summer vacations and it was then that he first fell in love with Ocean City, Maryland. His first Ocean City summer job was at Ponzetti’s Pizza on the Boardwalk in 1972. Jim and his father established a business in downtown Ocean City and built an amusement and arcade operation.
In 1978 he married Kathleen A. Petry and they have two children: Lauren, 29, and Trevor, 20.
Ambulance Service Committee and was Chairman of the Ocean City Humane Society Commission. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus
#9053, St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Parish, and the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company Engine 703. From 2002 to 2006 Jim represented the Coastal Bays Watershed, Ocean City and Worcester County, on the State of Maryland Critical Area Commission. In 2004 he served as State Chairman for WalkAmerica for the March of Dimes
. Jim was the President of the Lower Eastern Shore Mayors Association in 2004 and was the Honored Chairperson for the Light the Night Walk and The Leukemia
& Lymphoma
Society in 2004.
of Ocean City, Maryland
. He was re-elected in 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2004.
Ocean City, Maryland
Ocean City, sometimes known as OC, or OCMD, is an Atlantic Ocean resort town in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. Ocean City is widely known in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and is a frequent destination for vacationers in that area...
who serves in the Maryland State Senate
Maryland State Senate
The Maryland Senate, sometimes referred to as the Maryland State Senate, is the upper house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland...
. He was formerly a member of the Maryland House of Delegates
Maryland House of Delegates
The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
from 2006 to 2010.
Background
The former mayor of Ocean City, MarylandOcean City, Maryland
Ocean City, sometimes known as OC, or OCMD, is an Atlantic Ocean resort town in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. Ocean City is widely known in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and is a frequent destination for vacationers in that area...
, was born on September 2, 1951 in Baltimore, Maryland. During his childhood, he lived in Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Carroll County, Maryland
Carroll County, Maryland
Carroll County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 167,134. It was named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton , signer of the American Declaration of Independence. Its county seat is Westminster....
. He attended high school at Calvert Hall College
Calvert Hall College High School
Calvert Hall College High School is a Catholic college preparatory high school for boys located in Towson, Maryland, United States...
in Towson
Towson
-Places:In the United States:*Towson, Maryland, an unincorporated community in Maryland**Towson Center, an arena in Towson, Maryland**Towson Town Center, a shopping mall in Towson, Maryland*Fort Towson, Oklahoma, a community in Oklahoma...
, graduating in 1969. In 1974, Jim Mathias graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.
Mathias first came to Ocean City as a child, with his parents for summer vacations and it was then that he first fell in love with Ocean City, Maryland. His first Ocean City summer job was at Ponzetti’s Pizza on the Boardwalk in 1972. Jim and his father established a business in downtown Ocean City and built an amusement and arcade operation.
In 1978 he married Kathleen A. Petry and they have two children: Lauren, 29, and Trevor, 20.
Community affiliations
Jim has been active in the Ocean City community. He served as Chairman of the Worcester CountyWorcester County, Maryland
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*82.0% White*13.6% Black*0.3% Native American*1.1% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.7% Two or more races*1.3% Other races*3.2% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
Ambulance Service Committee and was Chairman of the Ocean City Humane Society Commission. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
#9053, St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Parish, and the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company Engine 703. From 2002 to 2006 Jim represented the Coastal Bays Watershed, Ocean City and Worcester County, on the State of Maryland Critical Area Commission. In 2004 he served as State Chairman for WalkAmerica for the March of Dimes
March of Dimes
The March of Dimes Foundation is a United States nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of mothers and babies.-Organization:...
. Jim was the President of the Lower Eastern Shore Mayors Association in 2004 and was the Honored Chairperson for the Light the Night Walk and The Leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
& Lymphoma
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage...
Society in 2004.
Political career
Mathias began his political career in Ocean City in 1987 when he was appointed to the Ocean City Board of Zoning Appeals, where he served until 1990. In October 1990, he was elected as an Ocean City Councilman and was re-elected to that post in 1994. In October 1996, Mathias was elected MayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Ocean City, Maryland
Ocean City, Maryland
Ocean City, sometimes known as OC, or OCMD, is an Atlantic Ocean resort town in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. Ocean City is widely known in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and is a frequent destination for vacationers in that area...
. He was re-elected in 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2004.
Legislative Notes
- voted against in-state tuition for illegal immigrants in 2007
- voted for the Tax Reform Act of 2007
- voted for the Maryland Gang Prosecution Act of 2007 (HB713), subjecting gang members to up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $100,000
- voted for Jessica’s Law (HB 930), eliminating parole for the most violent child sexual predators and creating a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in state prison.
- voted for Public Safety – Statewide DNA Database System – Crimes of Violence and Burglary – Post conviction (HB 370), helping to give police officers and prosecutors greater resources to solve crimes and eliminating a backlog of 24,000 unanalyzed DNA samples, leading to 192 arrests.
- voted for Vehicle Laws – Repeated Drunk and Drugged Driving Offenses – Suspension of License (HB 293), strengthening Maryland’s drunk driving laws by imposing a mandatory one year license suspension for a person convicted of drunk driving more than once in five years.
- voted for HB 102, creating the House Emergency Medical Services System Workgroup, leading to Maryland’s budgeting of $52 million to fund three new Medevac helicopters to replace the State’s aging fleet.