Wally Sheil

Walter N. "Wally" Sheil (April 15, 1929 – June 23, 2002) 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.[1]

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.[2] 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.[3] Sheil also served in the U.S. Army as Personnel Psychologist.[4]

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.[5] He filed a lawsuit against Senate President Joseph P. Merlino for the removal.[6]

Sheil served as the Hudson County Democratic Party Chairman from 1977 to 1981.[3][7] Smith attempted to remove Sheil as chairman in 1980.[8] A split among county democrats saw Sheil lose the 1981 primary election to Edward T. O'Connor, Jr.[9]

Sheil retired to Sarasota, Florida in 1991 where he changed his political affiliation to Republican.[10] Sheil ran in the Republican primary for a seat on the Sarasota County commission in 1996.[11] 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.[12] Pilon was fined $100.00 by the Florida Commission on Ethics.[13]

Sheil died on June 23, 2002 in Cuddebackville, New York and was interred at Holy Name Catholic Cemetery in Otisville.[4]

References
  1. "Gurney Has His Eye on Dist. 1". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. May 8, 1996. p. B1. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  2. Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey. 198. J.A. Fitzgerald. 1979.
  3. "Walter Sheil, 73; powerful Dem leader and HCCC chief". The Jersey Journal. June 25, 2002.
  4. "Obituaries". The Record. June 25, 2002.
  5. "Jersey State Senator Removed From Panel". The New York Times. November 23, 1981. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  6. "THE CITY; Senator Removed From Post Sues". The New York Times. December 2, 1981. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  7. "Candidates slug it out". The Day. June 15, 1981. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  8. "Mayor of Jersey City Fails to Unseat Sheil As Leader in Hudson". The New York Times. June 10, 1980. p. B10.
  9. "Campaign '81: In N.J. county it wasn't quite politics as usual". The Philadelphia Inquirer. June 4, 1981. p. B04.
  10. "Sarasota GOP Hopeful was Democratic `Boss'". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. May 22, 1996.
  11. "Candidates are Scheduled to Debate at Sarasota Center". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. August 21, 1996.
  12. Thompson, Rod (January 31, 1997). "Commissioner may face hearing". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
  13. "96-125 Final Order and Public Report, In re Ray Pilon". State of Florida. April 17, 1997.
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