District 21: Jennifer A. Whalen

Committee Assignments: Mass Transit, Elder Care and Law

Jennifer Whalen is serving her first term on the Albany County Legislature, representing the residents of the 21st district, which includes Loudonville and Latham. 

Jennifer has a record of public service. From 2015 to 2019, Jennifer served a four-year term as a Colonie Town Councilwoman, where she fought for lower taxes, fiscal responsibility, increased transparency, and a business friendly environment.  

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Jennifer served as an Assistant Counsel at the New York State Racing and Wagering Board where she prosecuted cases in the thoroughbred and harness racing industries.  Jennifer was an Assistant Attorney General for the New York State Department of Law, where among other responsibilities, she helped recover taxpayer funds stolen from innocent victims by dishonest attorneys, went after fraudulent Medicaid claims, and recovered monies from those who mismanaged state authorities. Her early years out of law school were spent as a law associate in a large law firm in Albany, where she handled cases in state and federal court, gaining experience in all legal disciplines.

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Jennifer is the owner of the Whalen Group, a residential and commercial real estate firm that has helped Capital Region families achieve homeownership since 2005. She is also a solo practitioner in the general practice of law.

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Jennifer received a law degree from Albany Law School and bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, where she currently serves as a regional chairperson of the Georgetown Admissions Alumni Interviewer Program. She attended high school at the Emma Willard School in Troy. She is admitted to the bar in the states of New York, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.

Jennifer lives in the Town of Colonie with her husband, Dr. Matthew Ben. They have two sons.