Deputy mayor learned from politically active father
By: Lea Kahn
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‘I absolutely love government. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to do anything else. This is truly how I feel about it.’ Doris Weisberg |
Doris Weisberg always wanted to run for political office. When she lived in Sussex County, she had her eye on the county Board of Chosen Freeholders. As a North Miami Beach resident, she considered running for municipal council.
But each time she thought about running for office, there were obstacles – until last year, when Mrs. Weisberg gained the nomination to run for Township Council, and won a four-year term.
"I like to be part of the process. I am a policy wonk. I absolutely love government. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to do anything else. This is truly how I feel about it," said Mrs. Weisberg, who is the deputy mayor for 2000.
The deputy mayor said that it helps that she comes from a political family. Her father was active in Democratic Party politics in Bergen County, where she grew up. She learned early on that it is important to pay one’s dues and give back to the community. It is wrong not to be politically active, she added.
Over the years, Mrs. Weisberg has been active in many volunteer organizations – especially the Lawrence chapter of the League of Women Voters. Serving on Township Council, however, has forced her to cut back on some of her volunteer activities.
"I was busy and involved anyway. I quit some other things, but I haven’t noticed a tremendous difference (since being elected to Township Council), except for more night meetings," she said.
There are more subtle differences, however, she said. When she offered an opinion before she was elected to Township Council, people would sometimes shrug their shoulders. But since her election to Township Council, her thoughts and opinions are given more weight, she said.
"Suddenly, you are endowed with wisdom or knowledge," she said with a laugh. "I am waiting for the big change to happen (since being elected to Township Council), but it never has."
Mrs. Weisberg credits her volunteer work with the League of Women Voters with helping to prepare her to hold elected office. She learned about public policy and tax policy through the League. The education she received through her volunteer work is something that one could not get from a college, she added.
"People ask me how I like being on Township Council. I say I like it most days. But on other days, I say you have to be careful what you wish for. But most days, I like it. Ninety percent of the resolutions (that Township Council votes on) are routine – appropriating money for road work, releasing performance bonds and other housekeeping chores," she said.
What Mrs. Weisberg does not like is the way that certain items break along party lines – Democrats versus Republicans. Pointing to her background as a member of the League of Women Voters, she said she prefers to come to a consensus on the issues.
"At the League, we do everything by consensus. It frustrates me when we break on partisan grounds. You compromise. You don’t give up your main point, but you work on it. I hate being partisan on significant issues," she said.
Mrs. Weisberg said she sees herself as a consensus-maker. She said she wants to stop viewing issues through a partisan lens. The issue of north Lawrence versus south Lawrence "drives me crazy," she said.
The deputy mayor said she tried to come up with a compromise on the King’s Highway nomination. The proposed nomination calls for Route 206 to be included on the state and national Registers of Historic Places, from the Princeton/Lawrence border to Franklin Corner Road.
No one tried to include Route 206 south of Franklin Corner Road as part of the King’s Highway nomination, she said. Her compromise was to ask for the southern portion of the road to be included. If an application was made and then rejected, that would have been fine. She said she just wanted it to be considered.