Thomas Michael Whalen III

Who was Thomas Michael Whalen III?

Thomas Michael Whalen III, also known as Thomas M. Whalen III, and more simply, Tom Whalen, was a three-term mayor of Albany, New York. A native of Albany, he was an attorney. He graduated from Manhattan College and Albany Law School.

Whalen had served as a city court judge from 1969 to 1975. In 1981, as part of Erastus Corning's "Team for the Future", he was elected as President of the Albany Common Council. His election to the Common Council's Presidency, done with the full support of then Mayor Erastus Corning, set the stage for Whalen's takeover of City Hall.

After Mayor Corning's 1983 death in Boston, and in accordance with Albany's charter, Whalen, as Common Council President, became Mayor. At the time of his ascendacy to office, New York State Comptroller Ned Regan was preparing to impose a Financial Control Board over the City of Albany. Whalen quickly set about establishing proper financial controls so that Albany could maintain control over its own finances. By all accounts he was successful.

He was a delegate to the 1984 Democratic National Convention. He was mayor during the city's year long Tricentennial celebration, which included a restoration of the carillon of Albany City Hall.