Jim Donnelly is a long time Democrat who was born
Jim Donnelly, President
in California and is the proud product of California public schools from Kindergarten through college. He earned a B.S. in Chemistry and a M.A. in Leadership. He joined the Marines after one semester of college and went back to school using the G.I. Bill 3 years later. While in college he also worked as a longshoreman and marine clerk in the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. Working on the waterfront through the ILWU gave him an appreciation for the benefits unions can bring to their members and the industry they serve.
Following an almost 40 year successful career working in the environmental field, Jim is now semi-retired running his own environmental, health and safety consulting firm. Jim and his wife Coni have been residents of Danville for more than 20 years having moved back to the Bay Area to ensure their son, David, a good high school education.
During Jim’s career he has worked and lived in Canada, North Africa, Europe, and South America as well as worked in Asia and Australia. Living and working overseas has allowed him to understand that there are many different ways to confront social problems. While living in Denmark he paid over 65 % income taxes and a 25 % sales tax. While the taxes were high, the social benefits they support make for one of the most satisfied societies in the world. School is free all the way through the Master’s level; in fact, students even get a stipend while attending college. There is universal health care and a social net that ensures people do not go hungry. It is system that, although it has its faults, works well for the vast majority of its citizens.
Jim was an active Democrat as a student and re-engaged with politics when he started working to get Congressman Jerry McNerney elected and re-elected. He became president of the SRVDC two years ago and was elected to represent supervisory district 3 on the Contra Costa County Democratic Party Central Committee (DPCCC) last year. At the beginning of this year he was appointed Treasurer of the DPCCC. In March 2011 he was elected as a delegate to the executive board of the California Democratic Party representing
Jim Donnelly, President