Longtime Assemblyman Weisenberg Won’t Run Again

Longtime state Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg, a Nassau County Democrat known for his advocacy for the disabled, announced Monday he will not seek re-election this fall.

The 80-year-old Weisenberg, a former police officer, teacher and lifeguard first elected to the Assembly in 1989, has authored hundreds of bills that were enacted, including recent laws to prohibit indoor tanning under age 16 and to make texting while driving a primary traffic offense. He became assistant speaker pro tempore of the body in 2003, meaning that he chairs the chamber in the absence of Speaker Sheldon Silver.

Weisenberg was a staunch advocate of special education and care for the developmentally disabled.

Earlier this year he drew the Assembly to tears with personal stories of his own disabled son to emerge with a rare unanimous vote on legislation. The bill gave cost-of-living raises for about 100,000 workers at nonprofits funded by six state agencies that serve developmentally disabled, mentally ill, addicted, elderly and juvenile clients.

Rabbi Shmuel Lefkowitz, Agudath Israel’s vice president for community services, told Hamodia on Monday that Weisenberg was very helpful in a special-ed bill that Jewish groups are trying to pass in Albany. The legislation, which would add cultural sensitivities when state or city agencies place a child in a special ed setting, was vetoed last year but Weisenberg helped shepherd it through the Assembly.

“He was always supportive, he always did what he was asked to do,” Rabbi Lefkowitz said. “He was a leader in the area of special ed and developmentally disabled children.”

However, an activist from Weisenberg’s district who worked with him in recent years on yeshivah education issues said that Weisenberg was a fairly consistent vote against new funding sources for yeshivas.

Weisenberg’s retirement set off a flurry of punditry speculating on his replacement. Democrats have a nearly 20 percent edge in voter enrollment over Republicans — 39,529 to 31,748 — although there are more than 20,000 unaffiliated voters.

Asher Mansdorf, a Lawrence School Board member, told Hamodia in a telephone interview Monday that he was “definitely interested” in the seat but first needs to gauge his support.

Michael Fragin, a Lawrence Township trustee, said that if Mansdorf, a Democrat, were to seek the seat he would be “very formidable.”

“If he runs,” Fragin predicted, “he will enjoy strong support in the Orthodox community and beyond.”

Another name floating as a possible Republican contender is Avi Fertig, who worked for Weisenberg’s GOP opponent in 2012.

This article appeared in print on page 5 of the April 29th, 2014 edition of Hamodia.