Primary Election Date: 06/07/2011
General Election Date: 11/08/2011

Who Am I?

Throughout her career in Bergen County Loretta Weinberg has championed issues affecting women, children, families, health care, gun safety, and other quality- of-life concerns. She has been dedicated to the preservation of the family for more than three decades of outstanding public service and was instrumental in getting laws passed to protect new mothers from early hospital discharge and to stop drunk drivers and handgun violence from claiming any more innocent victims. She has also been an untiring supporter of organizations that safeguard the family, improve the physical and mental health of children, and advance services for children with autism, adults with aphasia, and military veterans.

Loretta Weinberg graduated from the University of California with a Bachelors degree in history and political science. She completed all coursework for a Masters degree in public administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She married her late husband, Irwin Weinberg, in 1961, and they had two children: Daniel and Francine. Loretta now has two grandchildren: Shayna Iris and Jonah Benjamin.

From 1975 to 1985, Loretta was the Assistant Administrator to the County of Bergen, and from 1990 to 1994 was a member of the Teaneck City Council. She was elected to the General Assembly in 1992. As an Assemblywoman, Loretta served as Majority Conference Leader, Chairwoman of the Health and Human Services Committee, and Vice Chairwoman of the Family, Women, & Children’s Services Committee. In the General Assembly, Loretta left a legacy of sponsoring laws that protect men, women, and children and work to improve their lives.

In 2004, after 10 years of struggle, the Governor signed Loretta’s legislation to lower the legal alcohol level to .08. Loretta’s undying commitment to the passage of the .08 law is a testament to her dedication to future generations and their safety. She sponsored the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act, which prohibits smoking in indoor public places and workplaces.

In November 2005, Loretta was elected to the State Senate, where she is continuing her work to improve the lives of New Jersey residents. She is currently the Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services & Senior Citizens Committee and serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee. She serves on the NJ Israel Commission, the NJ Historical Commission and the Legislative Services Commission as well.

Senator Weinberg is known for her work on behalf of Women’s Health. Most recently she sponsored the much celebrated anti-bullying law as well as the Aphasia Study Commission. Throughout her career, Loretta has devoted many hours to her community and to organizations that seek to improve the lives of men, women, and children. She has been active in the American Red Cross, Shelter Our Sisters (Founding Member), the Bergen Family Center, AARP Teaneck Chapter (Board Member), the NJ Network of Women Elected Officials, the National Organization of Women Legislators, and the National Council of Jewish Women (Life Member) and Hadassah. She is a long-time member of Temple Emeth in Teaneck.

She ran as a Democratic Candidate for Lt. Governor with Governor Jon Corzine.

Why Am I Running?

I am running to stand up for ordinary people against the powerful interests in Trenton. I have spent much of my career speaking for those who have no voice: battered women, people with disabilities, and working families. I seek to continue the work that I started when I entered public service. Though I have many accomplishments so far, problems continue to arise that need to be addressed so that the law and the bureaucracy work for people.

I will work to implement a progressive agenda and prevent Governor Christie from moving New Jersey backward. He has already taken many steps which will hurt our most vulnerable residents. He has cut funding for women’s health, nursing homes, abused children, Medicaid, and school districts. Without an active and vocal Legislature to stand up to him, New Jersey will continue to suffer as he enacts his radical right wing policies.

Hold Me Accountable!

Healthcare is one of the biggest issues facing my constituents. With rising unemployment and an aging population, it is important that we ensure that all New Jerseyans have access to quality health care. I believe in strengthening Family Care and Medicaid to achieve this goal. With the coming implementation of the Affordable Care Act, each state has decisions to make about how the law will be implemented. Health care exchanges need to be strongly regulated to make sure that they work for the people they insure and not insurance companies. I will also work to ensure that seniors have access to home based care and assistance so that they can age in place and remain a member of the community.

Education is another top issue facing my constituents. School districts that I seek to represent have lost 25% of their State aid since FY2010, $15 million dollars. This has hurt school districts and forced them to increase class sizes and cut services. Governor Christie vetoed additional funding that we restored via a millionaire’s tax, as well as funding for NJ After 3, which provides after school programs. We need to give schools the funding they need to succeed so that we can, in the words of President Obama, “Win the future.”

Another important issue facing my district is transportation. Bergen County is not served well by public transportation, and the Access to the Region’s Core tunnel was prevented from moving forward. Bergen County is besieged by traffic and congestion, which takes away from our quality of life. I would support increases in transportation funding, both for roads and public transportation.

My DFA values:

I strongly believe grassroots organizing is the key to enacting progressive policies in New Jersey and around the country. I have supported many local candidates in primary races that ran ‘off the line’ and against the party establishment. I am a vocal critic of party bosses and detest backroom deals. I am also moving legislation that strengthens our State’s Open Public Records Act and Open Public Meetings Act to ensure that government is transparent and accountable.

I sponsored the Party Democracy Act to take power from the party bosses and put the power back in the hands of the county committee members. The law requires that county political organizations have by-laws and that the elections of public officials take place by secret ballot. It also increases the transparency of the county committee making the county committee membership list and bylaws available to the public.

I was proud to participate in a clean elections program for my last campaign for State Senate. I had to obtain small contributions from my constituents, which was supplemented with State funding depending on the number of people who donated. Unfortunately, that opportunity is no longer available. I continue to sponsor and advocate for legislation to control pay to play, wheeling, and independent expenditures.

My Campaign is People-Powered!

First, I am extensively using social media such a Facebook to connect to the electorate. This provides for a electronic relationship- person to person, not through interest groups, mainstream media or other informational gatekeepers. I have asked my friends to donate to the Center for Food Action to help this community food pantry and raise awareness about our hungry neighbors. I personally respond to comments and interact with my constituents. Of course, I will take my message directly to the people by meeting voters where they live and asking for their support. While I enjoy using technology because it allows me to communicate directly with more people in less time, nothing can replace a hug, handshake, or conversation. I also write a weekly blog on Blue Jersey.

My campaign will also rely on volunteers to help achieve the goals that we set. I have relationships with friends and activists in the district, whom I will reply upon to get the message out and win votes. There is a lot of work to be done in a campaign, and volunteers will be the most important part of the campaign. I will not have a large paid staff of political professionals doing the ground work for me. The people who volunteer to help do so because they believe in me and see the need to win the election to help their State succeed.