Preceded by J. Lowell Stoltzfus Religion Catholic Children Lauren and Trevor | Political party Democratic Role Politician Preceded by Bennett Bozman Name James Mathias, | |
Spouse Kathleen Mathias (m. 1978) Residence Ocean City, Maryland, United States | ||
Jim Mathias (born September 2, 1951) 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.
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Background
The former mayor of Ocean City, Maryland, 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(Deceased) and they have two children: Lauren, 32, and Trevor, 24. He also has a nephew, James Mathias, 13
Community affiliations
Jim has been active in the Ocean City community. He served as Chairman of the Worcester County 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.
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 Mayor of Ocean City, Maryland. He was re-elected in 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2004.