Jim Dennis was elected to the Legislature in November 2005 and was sworn in on January 3, 2006. Dennis comes to the office with 13 years of experience in local government as a past member of the Ithaca Common Council, where he chaired every major committee and was acting mayor for two years. Dennis taught public school for 34 years and is recently retired from the Ithaca City School District. He has a special interest and experience in personnel issues. As chair of the newly formed Personnel Committee, he will oversee a review of the County’s employee policies and will support the County’s renewed commitment to workforce diversity and inclusion. As a new Legislator, Dennis has said that he will be looking for ways to expand the real estate tax base and bring the kind of development to Tompkins County that produces living wage employment. Dennis is a 35 year resident of Tompkins County and lives in Trumansburg with his wife, Karen.