About Jane
Rep. Whilden has served her first term in the North Carolina House admirably. She was elected Co-Chair of the Freshman Democrats and was chosen by Speaker of the House Hackney to attend the Emerging Legislative Leaders Conference at UVA. Between sessions Rep. Whilden served on the two House select committees, the Small Business Committee and the Civil Custody Guardians Committee. Representative Whilden was also the only freshman House member to serve on a conference committee.
Rep. Whilden is a wife and working mother of three who has been an active volunteer in the local community for the past 17 years. For three years she served as vice president, and then president, of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina. She’s been a board member of the Pisgah Girl Scout Council and an advisory board member for the Mountain Area Family and Child Center. Jane has also volunteered with MANNA FoodBank, Mission Hospital, and the United Way. She has also served on the area Girl Scout Board and as a coach and judge for Odyssey of the Mind for over ten years. Jane also serves on the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Visitors.
Faith and family are the center of Jane's life. She’s been a Sunday School Teacher, Pre-School Teacher, and Bible School Director at Central United Methodist Church. She and her husband, David, have three children, all products of the public schools in the Roberson District. Each child has gone on to one of our state's universities. Jane has served as both the president and the vice president of the Estes Elementary PTA, and David is a former officer of the TC Roberson Educational Foundation. Both Jane and her husband have served on the UNC-Chapel Hill Parents Council (four years) and the Appalachian State University Parent's Council (six years and counting).
For seven years Jane served as the Director of the Governor’s Western Office. In her role, she helped thousands of Western North Carolinians navigate the complicated web of government agencies in order to address their concerns. When two devastating floods hit Western North Carolina in 2004, Jane worked with local legislators to establish a relief office in Asheville, and together they made sure the region received the assistance it needed from our state government.
Rep. Whilden knows through her experience that she has what it takes to continue to serve as your Representative in the North Carolina House for District 116, and that is why she is running for re-election. She would be honored to once again be elected as your representative.
