Mayor Weiss told JNS she grew up Conservadox and after going to NCSY she became Orthodox.

She was already midway through her third term on City Council so is not new to the local politics. She says she wants to be nonpartisan and deal with the issues in a unifying way, unlike the previous mayor who was mroe divisive as is common in today's political climate.

When asked if she is going to ask her rabbi everything that coems up, she said she was involved in many laws and issues on city council for nearly 15 years and did not call her rabbi every time they discussed an issue. People need to calm down, I guess. Though she is getting rabbinical guidance in how to deal with situations that will arise on Shabbos and holidays, and is meeting with the emergency services to understand when they need to be in touch with her so she can be prepared for those eventualities.

It seems Michele Weiss is the first ever Jewish Orthodox Woman Mayor in the USA!

Good luck to the new Mayor!