Atlantic City Weekly

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Dr. (Van) Drew

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The popular dentist-turned-state senator Jeff Van Drew (D- Legislative District 1) talks about what influenced him, the economic forecast, what's in store for the area and, er, legislators' dental health.

What eras influenced you?

The 1940s, for one. It was a time of great challenge, when individual Americans showed tremendous leadership and ability, and good prevailed. And it was a very romantic time. The movies were beautiful -- Humphrey Bogart movies, Lauren Bacall. Also, the time of the founding of the country, when a group of very bright, independent human beings started this noble and unusual experiment known as the United States.

Do you have time to watch old movies, read history?

I'm probably culturally more bereft now than I've been in a long time, because I'm reading ordinances, statutes and resolutions, all kinds of governmental things. But I still try.

The economy's front and center these days. In hard times, should the government incentivize and feed the system, or pull back?

I'm a moderate politically. I have good friends on both the far left and the far right who say, if you're standing in the middle of the road you're going to get hit. I reply, I'm standing in the middle of the road to prevent you from having head-on collisions. The government, obviously, in a society and a world as small and interconnected as we are now, has a role. It has to. But if we over-utilize the government we will lose our entrepreneurial spirit.

How are prospects for legalized sports betting in casinos?

Our bill has gone through the Assembly, and it has Republican and Democrat support now on the Senate side, because I amended the bill to also benefit the racetracks that North Jersey legislators are so committed to. We basically have one very powerful individual at this point who won't allow it to move through - the Senate president. We're going to continue to work on him.

Should the state provide additional funding to racetracks?

I don't love it, but, in the world of politics, which is compromise, if the alternative is to provide $90 million to the racetracks in casino funds, or have slots in the Meadowlands, I'm going to provide the $90 million dollars.

Where do you stand on casino smoking bans?

Some day, in the short term -- and I don't mean 20 years from now -- we need to be smoke-free. Right now? No. People just don't know what's coming yet. There is absolutely a slow down. We need to look at any way to try to soften it for jobs.

What would make Atlantic City a destination resort for you?

Some of what it already has ... The Walk and The Pier [Shops at Caesars], and all that. I gamble a couple of times a year, yet I do love to dine out. I like going to good clothing stores. I love to go to shows, and movies. We really do have to get to the point that surrounding areas need to be aesthetically more pleasing and more functional. You've seen it to some degree, but painfully slowly, like Atlantic Avenue.

What's your take on the classic legislator's dilemma: whether to lead, or to follow?

You can never become so arrogant that you believe that you are smarter or gifted with the ability to always decide for the people. Are there times where your responsibility is to educate a little bit? That's what leadership's about sometimes. But I am somewhat of a populist, more than many other legislators.