Benjie E. Wimberly

Benjie E. Wimberly (born December 1, 1964) is an American teacher and Democratic Party politician who represents the 35th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly. He is also the head coach of the football team at Hackensack High School and is serving as the recreation director of Paterson.

Education

Wimberly graduated from Passaic County Technical Institute in Wayne, New Jersey, and Virginia State University where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology.

Football coach

Wimberly was an assistant coach for Eastside High School in Paterson from 1989 through 1994. He then served as the head coach of the football team at Paterson Catholic High School from 1995 through 2010, when the school ceased operations. In his last seven years at Paterson Catholic, Wimberly amassed a 70–3 win–loss record, and mentored Victor Cruz. During his 16 years as coach, Paterson Catholic won seven state championships. Wimberly became the head coach of the football team at Hackensack High School in 2012, succeeding Mike Miello. He is also serving as Paterson's Recreation Director.

Elective office

In 2010, Wimberly was elected to the Paterson city council. Several of his former students volunteered for his campaign, as he courted the youth vote in a method similar to Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential election.

Wimberly won election to the New Jersey General Assembly in 2011, and was reelected in 2013. Each of the 40 districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly. The other representatives from the 35th District for the 2014–2015 Legislative Session are Senator Nellie Pou and Assemblywoman Shavonda E. Sumter.

He serves on the following Assembly Committees: Telecommunications and Utilities (Vice-Chair), Budget, and Judiciary. He also serves on the Joint Committee on Economic Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity (as Co-Chair) and the Joint Committee on the Public Schools.

Wimberly considered a run for mayor of Paterson in the 2014 election.

Personal life

Wimberly and his wife, Kimberlyn, have four children. His oldest son Justin played high school football for Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey.