Lisa Mandelblatt

Lisa Mandelblatt (Democratic Party) ran for election to the New Jersey General Assembly to represent District 21. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2019.

Mandelblatt was a 2018 Democratic candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the 7th Congressional District of New Jersey. She dropped out of the race in February 2018 and endorsed Tom Malinowski.[1]

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

My top three priorities for the 21st legislative district are fully funding NJTransit, repairing and rebuilding New Jersey’s crumbling infrastructure, and reducing the tax burden in the state, particularly property taxes.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

One area of policy I’m passionate about is education. I truly believe that a good education is the great equalizer and while NJ has some great public schools, we are still failing our most vulnerable students. I wish I knew the secret to solving the problem, but I know that we cannot fail another generation of students. I believe that NJ could and should position itself as the Education State. The state that all others look to for how we educate from Pre-K through college. We need to pay and support our educators. And eliminate PARCC and other standardized testing - I've witnessed firsthand the stress that testing causes and I have yet to see one positive result. We need to be educating the whole child, not focusing on test prep.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My dad is my hero. He was raised by an amazing single mother (my grandmother) and grew up in public housing, but he did not let that limit his dreams. He and my mom met on a blinddate in Syracuse, NY, and they are still each other’s best friend. My dad started and ended his 41 year career at General Electric, where he began work as a draftsman and ended up traveling all over the world selling computer time-share contracts to international phone companies. My dad can talk to anyone and everyone likes him. Which makes him a formidable asset on any campaign. He’s 83 years old and still goes to his spin classes. My dad is my #1 fan - he believes I can truly do anything. How lucky am I?

What legacy would you like to leave?

Raised in the Reform Jewish tradition, I have always been taught that it is our obligation to work to repair the world. I try to live my life in that pursuit. While none of us are required to complete the work of repairing the world, we are not free to abandon it. If I am remembered as someone who strived to make the lives of those around her better, that would be an honorable legacy.

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