Another Look At C.H. Mayor Levin

Susan Bass Levin, mayor of Cherry Hill, never planned on a career in politics. She attended college at the University of Rochester and later graduated from George Washington University Law School. She worked as a law clerk, an attorney and a professor. Later, she had her own law practice in Cherry Hill, where she represented small business owners.

Levin says her involvement in community and charitable organizations led her to a career in public service. She ran for council in 1985 and then mayor in 1987. She is currently serving her fourth consecutive term as mayor. Levin manages a $40 million budget and has kept municipal taxes stable for 12 consecutive years.

Township Councilwoman Joyce Alexander Walker, who has worked with Levin for seven years in different capacities, says one of the reasons Levin is so good at her job is "she thinks outside the box."

In 1998 the New Jersey Conference of Mayors presented Levin with the Governor’s Award for Volunteerism. That same year President Clinton appointed her to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. She was named by New Jersey Monthly magazine as "One of the 50 Most Interesting People in the State."

So what is Levin working on now? Women’s health, children’s education and a new library are just a few of the challenges she faces today. Levin has been dedicated to women’s issues throughout her term. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Women’s Fund of New Jersey and has been very active in promoting women’s health. Levin says she is working to make sure women have access to doctors, that insurance covers mammograms for women and if they have an HMO plan they can use a gynecologist as their primary care physician.

Another major concern for Levin is education. She has always been involved in children’s education and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls club in Camden. She is known to volunteer her time in schools often. "I want to make sure that we provide the very best education we can for all of our children," says Levin. "I think that over the years as the state and the federal government have cut back on funds, it’s too often taken out of education. I think that should be the last resort, not the first resort."

Levin has helped secure funding for education. She co-chaired the New Jersey Higher Education Alliance and worked with students to secure a $550 million state bond to improve New Jersey colleges and universities. Fabiana DiSanzo, 21, remembers Levin coming to her school and working with her Girl Scout group. "She is very oriented towards youth education," she says.

Levin has two daughters, now 22 and 26, and says she feels her job provided her the flexibility to attend their school activities and be more involved. Levin’s mother, who taught third grade, helped her to grow up appreciating education and teachers. "Books, computers, buildings and facilities, all of that is important, but without a good teacher, you’re nowhere," says Levin.

As for what she wants for the students, Levin explains she would like to see all of Cherry Hill’s children gain the computer and technical skills they need, but also have an understanding of art, history and music, "the things that make us human beings."

Children will be able to gain knowledge on those subjects and more in the new library that the township is going to build. "We’re pretty excited about it," says Levin. "We’ll probably start construction on it this spring." She expects construction to be completed in two years.

Walker says the library is the "biggest thing that’s happened to Cherry Hill for a long time." Walker explains that the library has always been undersized for the population. The library was built in the 1960s, when the population was just 31,300, according to the Cherry Hill Township informational pamphlet. The population is now at 69,500. The new library, designed by Beatty, Harvey and Associates, will be over 75,000 square feet. It will be built on the Richman’s site next to the current library on Kings Highway.

According to Walker, the old library, built with concrete walls, will not be used after the new library is built. However, the township is going to try to use components of the library, such as the old wooden beams, as decorative elements in the new library.

Future plans for Levin herself may include running for Congress again. In 2000 Levin ran against James Saxton, but lost. "It was a great experience, but the fund-raising part of it was very difficult and very unpleasant, " says Levin. Her current term is not up until 2003 and she says she plans to continue as mayor of Cherry Hill. Levin explains her job rewards her with a sense that she is able to "have an impact; to see a problem and solve a problem."

Walker says one of the reasons why Levin is so good at her job is because "She is an innovator. She sees a need before there is a problem." One thing is sure, Mayor Susan Bass Levin, whether in office or not, will continue solving Cherry Hill and New Jersey’s problems for years to come.

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Author: Jaime Grill, Rowan University - The Cherry Hill Connection.com