Five Towns Democrats elect new club president

By Yaffi Spodek

Issue of Feb. 27, 2009 / 3 Adar 5769

Odelia Goldberg, a Lawrence attorney, was recently elected co-president of the Five Towns Democratic Club, to serve alongside Steve Anchin.

Goldberg, a working mother of three, made an unsuccessful bid for the State Senate in 2006, mounting a challenge to long-time incumbent Sen. Dean Skelos who recently became the majority leader. She has been active in the Democratic club for several years as a member of its executive board.

“I do think it’s our duty to get a little bit involved, otherwise people should think twice about complaining if they are not going to be part of the solution,” Goldberg told The Jewish Star, explaining her interest in politics. “If you don’t come out to support our candidate and tell them the problems, then it’s very easy to complain.”

She describes the club — which recently merged with branches from Lynbrook and Valley Stream — as a “grass roots effort to support local democratic candidates and national democratic candidates, and to engage in stimulating conversation relating to politics.”

The club hosts free monthly events at the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library. This month’s event was scheduled to take place on Thursday, Feb. 26, featuring guest speaker Lawrence Levy, a former Newsday writer who teaches at Hofstra University and hosts a radio show. During the 2008 election, the club organized a program featuring members of the Obama campaign who discussed Obama, the Jewish vote and Israel, to allow voters to understand their policies.

“What we like to do is really get the community engaged in conversation,” Goldberg said. “Dialogue allows people to make intelligent and informed decisions. We try to cover topics which are relevant to all members of the community.”

Armed with an MBA in addition to her law degree, Goldberg  operates a Lawrence-based law firm specializing in wills, trusts and estate planning. She is also an adjunct professor at St. John’s University, and teaches estate planning in continuing education classes offered throughout Long Island.