For Deborah Schmitt and her partner, Henry Schaefer, immersion in political causes is a shared endeavor–and one of the things that brought them together. After the two connected on a dating site but hadn’t yet met in person, Deborah found an article that highlighted Henry’s leadership in Plainsboro, his longtime home. “He was a responsible citizen involved in his community, and I was, too,” recalled Deborah, who had spent years in Long Hill Township as a three-time municipal committee member and was active in fighting overdevelopment, particularly in the Great Swamp Watershed.

Fast forward to the present, and only some things have changed. The two now live together in Bernards Township, their home for more than a decade. Although retired from their respective careers, their commitment to civic participation has not waned. Henry, 77, is a District 1 representative (BTDC). He and Deborah, 70, have worked during the last few elections to get out the vote, including writing postcards, making phone calls, and putting signs around town. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed and, to those who know them, are not surprising. 

What may be surprising is that Deborah, a former physical therapist and telecommunications researcher, was once a registered Republican. As a Gillette resident, she felt she had no choice. “There was no Democratic party, so I was a RINO for several years,” she laughs, using the commonly accepted acronym for “Republican in Name Only.” Feeling that she would not make any headway as a Democrat, she kept her party affiliation in order to effect positive change in the township.

Henry, a former woodworker with a PhD in engineering, moved to Plainsboro in 1977 “and very quickly got involved,” he said. Like Bernards Township used to be, Plainsboro was governed by an all-Republican committee. Nevertheless, Henry ran for a position on the committee in 1984 and served two terms. He was appointed to the planning board, serving for 30 years, and was chosen as deputy mayor. “I was motivated by the same issues [as Deborah],” he recalled of his commitment to land preservation and keeping overdevelopment at bay. Along with a handful of others, Henry worked to create the 1,000-acre Plainsboro Preserve, which for a long time was managed by New Jersey Audubon.

After getting together, Deborah and Henry decided to make Bernards Township their home largely because she adored the ash trees on the back roads she took to her physical therapy job at Peapack’s Matheny School. When a beautiful older home came onto the market, they bought it.

Henry is especially grateful to the burgeoning Democratic presence in town. “When we moved here, there didn’t seem to be any Democratic organization,” he remembered. “And then within a couple of years, an organization kind of blossomed.” 

Now, in addition to their political work, the duo keeps busy with family and other activities. Deborah’s grandchildren live nearby, and she often picks them up from school. She’s also a National Park Service volunteer, helping tend the garden at Jockey Hollow’s Cross Estate, and works as a substitute yoga instructor. The two love to travel. They’ve been around the world bird watching, a 50-year hobby of Henry’s. This year’s jaunts include India, Hawaii, and Utah’s national parks.

The couple would love to see more people in town get involved politically, especially retired folks who, like them, have a lot to offer. They’re also hopeful about the chances of Democrats Liz Graner and Adam Subervi being elected to the local office. “Winning both of these seats this year would be a major achievement and has the potential for changing the direction of the Township Committee,” Henry said.

– LAURIE SALOMAN