Jim Wiley
Jim Wiley, an Obetz, Ohio, councilman, is retired from a 38 year career in the Army and Air Force, serving in both enlisted and officer status. He worked in the regular Air Force, the Air National Guard, and the Air Force Reserve, finishing his career in an army uniform as a Military Police training battallion commander. He worked world-wide at every level, but in Ohio he is best known for taking a historic, but troubled ANG squadron from marginal status to the Air Force's Outstanding Unit in two years.
As an elected member of the Obetz Village Council, Jim is the immediate past President Pro-Tem and the chairman of the Legislation Committee. His wife, Bonnie Holbrook Wiley (pictured to his left), serves on the council as well, where she is the council member on the Planning and Zoning Board. Both are involved in Block Watch, the Obetz Zucchinifest, and the Obetz Historical Society, for which Jim serves as President. He is also Vice President of the Big Walnut Community Investment Corporation.
Politically, Jim falls into the large middle ground of politics that envelops voters of both parties. As a former UAW worker (he worked nights at Caterpillar while attending college) he probably could be best described as a traditional live-and-let-live liberal, uncomfortable with the hard core partisans of both parties. "My way or the highway" is hardly a useful philosophy when your job is to fix the potholes, which are uniformly bipartisan in nature.
Jim is well known around southern Franklin County for running the cheapest successful campaigns around. His campaign for Ohio State Senate cost less than $400. The ultimate winner spent nearly $900,000 in direct donations and had the likely equivalent in independent funds spent on his behalf. Jim's 2007 race cost $61, and his most recent 2011 victory less than $200.
Whether he is wandering through the village Halloween party in his ratty old flight jacket or lining up the floats in the Zucchinifest Parade, Jim Wiley has become just another part of Obetz's steady progress since he headed up the road from his last assignment at Rickenbacker ANGB. No fuss, no fireworks. Just get it done.
Please call Jim with any questions - (614) 497-9872
This site is designed, written, approved and paid for by James B. Wiley, 4277 Orchard Lane, Obetz OH 43207
