James "Jim" P. Hilty Sr. was first elected the City Council in December 2013 representing District 5 which encompasses the city’s far eastern region.  He served until December of 2017.  Jim was reelected to City Council in December of 2021, again representing District 5.

Jim was born and raised in New York. He served his country as a Marine and served in Vietnam from 1969-1970. Jim then joined Hughes Aircraft and worked on the F-14 project. As the project came to completion Jim changed career paths. Jim and his wife Pauline moved to Ocala in December of 1990 with their two young sons. Jim became a Financial Advisor and joined the financial firm of Edward Jones. He opened the second Edward Jones branch office in Ocala in 1993.

Jim has been active in business and civic affairs in Ocala for many years. He is a board member of the following organizations: Blessed Trinity Endowment Board, Salvation Army and Discovery Science Center. Jim served previously as Chairman of the Board for both the Ocala Civic Theatre and the Ocala Marion County Chamber of Commerce. From 2001-2016 Jim served the Boy Scouts of our area as the Marion District Eagle Scout Board of Review Chairman and in 2013 was the recipient of the Silver Beaver Award – the highest award given to volunteers in service to Scouting.

Jim currently serves on the Florida Municipal Power Agency’s Policy Makers Liaisons Committee. He is also currently a member of the Ocala Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership, Lions Club, Friends of the Christmas Parade, and the Marion County Legal Support Association. Jim is a graduate of Ocala Leadership Class 16. Jim was a member of the Ocala Honor Flight Executive Board from inception to the final mission in 2013.

Jim has associates degrees in Hotel and Restaurant Administration from Sullivan County Community College, NY and Business Administration from Suffolk Community College NY. Jim is widowed and has two sons, Jim Hilty, Jr. and Brian Hilty.