Joel Weingarten
Encyclopedia
Joel M. Weingarten is an American
Republican Party
politician who served two full terms in the New Jersey General Assembly
, where he represented the 21st Legislative District
from 1996 to 2002.
Weingarten earned his undergraduate degree from St. John's College, where he majored in liberal arts and was awarded an M.S. from Carnegie-Mellon University, where he majored in industrial administration. Weingarten was employed as Managing Director at Quest Associates. He served on the Millburn
Township Committee from 1993 to 1996.
Weingarten was elected to the Assembly in a November 1996 special election in which he defeated Democratic candidate Robert R. Peacock to fill the one year remaining on the vacant seat of Monroe Jay Lustbader
, who had died in office in March 1996. He was re-elected to serve two full terms of office in 1997 and 1999, together with Republican running mate Kevin J. O'Toole
. Weingarten served in the Assembly on the Appropriations Committee and the Law and Public Safety Committee.
Together with Jack Collins
, Weingarten sponsored a bill in the Assembly in January 2000 that would prohibit state and local laws that interfere with religion, except in cases where there was a compelling public interest. Weingarten stated that the bill could be used to prevent routine autopsies on Orthodox Jews
unless there was a question of foul play and would allow churches and synagogues to be exempted from local zoning and historic preservation laws unless an unsafe condition was created for traffic, as another example. Catholic hospitals could not be required to perform abortions and religious headwear could not be banned from public schools, under the provisions of the bill. Weingarten's legislation was modelled on the 1993 federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act
, which was struck down by the United States Supreme Court
in 1997.
In 2000, Weingarten proposed legislation that passed unanimously in the Assembly to require the State of New Jersey to create a web site listing sex offenders, including their names, addresses, pictures and details of the crimes committed. The bill expanded the availability of information about sex offenders beyond the community notification requirements included in the 1994 Megan's Law
. Weingarten emphasized the importance of making this information available, noting that as many of 95% of those who have committed sexual crimes are repeat offenders.
In redistricting following the 2000 United States Census, Millburn became the only Essex County municipality to remain in the 21st District, costing him the opportunity to win the Republican nomination in the reformed district.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician who served two full terms in the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
, where he represented the 21st Legislative District
21st Legislative District (New Jersey)
New Jersey's 21st Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Essex County municipality of Millburn Township, the Morris County communities of Chatham Township, Harding Township, Long Hill Township and Madison Borough, the Somerset County localities of Warren Township and Watchung...
from 1996 to 2002.
Weingarten earned his undergraduate degree from St. John's College, where he majored in liberal arts and was awarded an M.S. from Carnegie-Mellon University, where he majored in industrial administration. Weingarten was employed as Managing Director at Quest Associates. He served on the Millburn
Millburn, New Jersey
Millburn is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 20,149.Millburn Township was created as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 20, 1857, from portions of Springfield Township.Millburn also...
Township Committee from 1993 to 1996.
Weingarten was elected to the Assembly in a November 1996 special election in which he defeated Democratic candidate Robert R. Peacock to fill the one year remaining on the vacant seat of Monroe Jay Lustbader
Monroe Jay Lustbader
Monroe Jay Lustbader was an American Republican Party politician who was elected to three terms in the New Jersey General Assembly, serving in office from 1992 until his death, where he represented the 21st Legislative District....
, who had died in office in March 1996. He was re-elected to serve two full terms of office in 1997 and 1999, together with Republican running mate Kevin J. O'Toole
Kevin J. O'Toole
Kevin J. O'Toole is an American Republican Party politician, who serves in the New Jersey Senate. O'Toole represents the 40th legislative district, which consists of parts of Bergen, Essex and Passaic counties....
. Weingarten served in the Assembly on the Appropriations Committee and the Law and Public Safety Committee.
Together with Jack Collins
Jack Collins (politician)
John "Jack" Collins has been an American college basketball coach, educator, lawyer, and a Republican Party politician from New Jersey...
, Weingarten sponsored a bill in the Assembly in January 2000 that would prohibit state and local laws that interfere with religion, except in cases where there was a compelling public interest. Weingarten stated that the bill could be used to prevent routine autopsies on Orthodox Jews
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
unless there was a question of foul play and would allow churches and synagogues to be exempted from local zoning and historic preservation laws unless an unsafe condition was created for traffic, as another example. Catholic hospitals could not be required to perform abortions and religious headwear could not be banned from public schools, under the provisions of the bill. Weingarten's legislation was modelled on the 1993 federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act
Religious Freedom Restoration Act
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, Pub. L. No. 103-141, 107 Stat. 1488 , codified at through , is a 1993 United States federal law aimed at preventing laws that substantially burden a person's free exercise of their religion. The bill was introduced by Howard McKeon of California and...
, which was struck down by the United States Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
in 1997.
In 2000, Weingarten proposed legislation that passed unanimously in the Assembly to require the State of New Jersey to create a web site listing sex offenders, including their names, addresses, pictures and details of the crimes committed. The bill expanded the availability of information about sex offenders beyond the community notification requirements included in the 1994 Megan's Law
Megan's Law
Megan's Law is an informal name for laws in the United States requiring law enforcement authorities to make information available to the public regarding registered sex offenders. Individual states decide what information will be made available and how it should be disseminated...
. Weingarten emphasized the importance of making this information available, noting that as many of 95% of those who have committed sexual crimes are repeat offenders.
In redistricting following the 2000 United States Census, Millburn became the only Essex County municipality to remain in the 21st District, costing him the opportunity to win the Republican nomination in the reformed district.