Wally Sheil
Encyclopedia
Walter N. "Wally" Sheil was an American
education administrator and politician
from Jersey City, New Jersey
who served in the New Jersey State Senate as a Democrat
from 1978 to 1982, and ran as Republican
candidate for Sarasota County, Florida
Commissioner in 1996.
Sheil attended Saint Peter's College in Jersey City where he played basketball with future Mayor of Jersey City, and sometime political ally, Thomas F. X. Smith
. He graduated with a BS
in 1950. Sheil went on to play for the Carbondale Aces
of the American Basketball League. Sheil received an MA
from Seton Hall University in 1952. He was Director of Admissions at Saint Peter's from 1957 to 1962 and Director of Continuing Education at Jersey City State College (now New Jersey City University
) from 1967 to 1977. Sheil was President of Hudson County Community College
from 1977 to 1981 and from 1987 to 1989. Sheil also served in the U.S. Army as Personnel Psychologist.
While in the State Senate, Sheil was stripped of his assignments on the Judiciary Committee for supporting Republican Thomas Kean
in the 1981 Gubernatorial election. He filed a lawsuit against Senate President Joseph P. Merlino
for the removal.
Sheil served as the Hudson County
Democratic Party Chairman from 1977 to 1981. Smith attempted to remove Sheil as chairman in 1980. A split among county democrats saw Sheil lose the 1981 primary election
to Edward T. O'Connor, Jr.
Sheil retired to Sarasota, Florida
in 1991 where he changed his political affiliation to Republican. Sheil ran in the Republican primary
for a seat on the Sarasota County commission in 1996. He lost the primary to Ray Pilon, and later helped file an ethics complaint against Pilon for using a non-public mailing list to solicit campaign support. Pilon was fined $100.00 by the Florida Commission on Ethics.
Sheil died on June 23, 2002 in Cuddebackville, New York and was interred at Holy Name Catholic Cemetery in Otisville
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
education administrator and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
who served in the New Jersey State Senate as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
from 1978 to 1982, and ran as Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate for Sarasota County, Florida
Sarasota County, Florida
Sarasota County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county was 372,057. Its county seat is Sarasota, Florida....
Commissioner in 1996.
Sheil attended Saint Peter's College in Jersey City where he played basketball with future Mayor of Jersey City, and sometime political ally, Thomas F. X. Smith
Thomas F. X. Smith
Thomas Francis Xavier Smith was a reformist politician and author. He served as mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey, from 1977 to 1981.-Career:...
. He graduated with a BS
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in 1950. Sheil went on to play for the Carbondale Aces
Carbondale Aces
The Carbondale Aces were an American basketball team based in Brooklyn, New York. It was a member of the American Basketball League.-Year-by-year:...
of the American Basketball League. Sheil received an MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
from Seton Hall University in 1952. He was Director of Admissions at Saint Peter's from 1957 to 1962 and Director of Continuing Education at Jersey City State College (now New Jersey City University
New Jersey City University
New Jersey City University is a public university in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA. It is a member of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities....
) from 1967 to 1977. Sheil was President of Hudson County Community College
Hudson County Community College
Hudson County Community College is an accredited, co-educational, two-year, public, community college located in Hudson County, New Jersey.-Locations:...
from 1977 to 1981 and from 1987 to 1989. Sheil also served in the U.S. Army as Personnel Psychologist.
While in the State Senate, Sheil was stripped of his assignments on the Judiciary Committee for supporting Republican Thomas Kean
Thomas Kean
Thomas Howard Kean is an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 48th Governor of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990. Kean is best known globally, however, for his 2002 appointment as Chairman of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, widely known as the...
in the 1981 Gubernatorial election. He filed a lawsuit against Senate President Joseph P. Merlino
Joseph P. Merlino
Joseph P. Merlino was an American Democratic Party politician who served as President of the New Jersey Senate from 1978 to 1981.-Early life and career:...
for the removal.
Sheil served as the Hudson County
Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
Democratic Party Chairman from 1977 to 1981. Smith attempted to remove Sheil as chairman in 1980. A split among county democrats saw Sheil lose the 1981 primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
to Edward T. O'Connor, Jr.
Edward T. O'Connor, Jr.
Edward T. O'Connor, Jr. is an American Democratic Party politician, who served in the New Jersey Senate from 1982 to 2002, where he represented the 31st legislative district.-Biography:...
Sheil retired to Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
in 1991 where he changed his political affiliation to Republican. Sheil ran in the Republican primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
for a seat on the Sarasota County commission in 1996. He lost the primary to Ray Pilon, and later helped file an ethics complaint against Pilon for using a non-public mailing list to solicit campaign support. Pilon was fined $100.00 by the Florida Commission on Ethics.
Sheil died on June 23, 2002 in Cuddebackville, New York and was interred at Holy Name Catholic Cemetery in Otisville
Otisville, New York
Otisville is a village in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 989 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined...
.