Meet The Haddonfield Commissioner Candidate: Colleen Bezich

HADDONFIELD, NJ — Eight candidates will run for three open seats on the Haddonfield Board of Commissioners in the May 11 non-partisan elections.

Patch asked each candidate to complete a questionnaire outlining biographical information, their platform and their stands on a handful of issues.

This week, Patch will run profiles of all the candidates who responded, in alphabetical order. Profiles are presented here in the same format as the questionnaires given to the candidates. There were no further instructions, and none of the responses has been edited (beyond basic proofreading and formatting). Readers can make their own judgments on how the candidates did or didn't answer the questions.

Today's profile: Haddonfield Commissioner Colleen Bianco Bezich.

Age (as of Election Day)

39

Family

Married to Anthony Bezich since 2006, and we share one (1) son, Luca, age five (5)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

I work as a local government & land use attorney, but do not do any work in/for Haddonfield Borough in that capacity

Education

Juris Doctor, Rutgers University School of Law - Camden
Master's Degree in Public Administration, Rutgers University - Camden
Bachelor's Degree in Anthropology, Ithaca College
Bachelor's Degree in Journalism, Ithaca College

Occupation

Attorney, 11 years;
I also possess 20 years of experience in local government, including community relations, economic development, grant writing, and project management.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Elected to Haddonfield Borough Board of Commissioners in 2019 to serve unexpired term of prior Commissioner who resigned.

Campaign website

www.colleenforcommissioner.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I have always been someone who enjoyed giving back to my community, as well as developing & implementing public policy. I genuinely enjoy working in local government, because you impact people's lives on a daily basis. I've volunteered in various capacities since childhood, and when the opportunity presented itself in 2019, I thought it was the perfect call to action for me, personally, to become an elected leader.

The single most pressing issue facing our board is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing our Board of Commissioners is how we engage professionals (ie: attorneys, engineers, planners, et al) so as to best represent the Borough's interests and act on the taxpayers' behalf in matters requiring technical expertise.

No single Commissioner can be an expert in every area of local government function or policy. As such, we need to rely on trusted professionals to assist with planning, policy development & negotiations, among other things. Why is this so important? Because this issue touches every single thing we as Commissioners do, from affordable housing and redevelopment (ie: Bancroft), to financing infrastructure, leasing public lands, and developing long-range plans for our Downtown & recreational facilities.

What do I intend to do about it? In my first 17 months, I have already held firm in my commitment to employing a fair & open process for professional appointments, and I will maintain this position going forward. I will continue to advocate for hiring experts in accordance with the Local Public Contracts Law, and holding them accountable once contracted. I believe we should develop an annual cycle for appointments (in some cases there may be lawful multi-year appointments) and continuously review performance by requiring regular reporting by these professionals in open public meetings, so as to further address and commit to transparency.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

My experience & qualifications in local government set me apart from the other candidates, while also enabling me to work well with any combination of candidates. Importantly, I have a solid understanding of the laws & regulations that apply to our Borough, so regardless of which substantive course of action our Board (or individual members) ultimately pursues on any single issue, I am able to serve as an advocate for lawful, transparent procedure and responsible governance.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

In 2019, I promised to "lead by example," and I have truly tried my best to live up to that motto on a daily basis. Over the past 17 months, this has meant representing and responding to Borough residents with courtesy, diligence, honesty, professionalism, and a commitment to transparency.
Substantively, a commitment to public health & safety became the focus of my time in office as Director of Public Safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. I intend to pursue ongoing health, safety & wellness policies, programming & improvements over the next four (4) years if re-elected this May. This includes promoting the health & wellbeing of our law enforcement officers, firefighters & EMTs. Whether supportive programming, equipment purchases, or investments in physical & technological infrastructure, I'm excited to devote more time to meeting the needs of our first responders. I also have a number of ideas for community-wide events & programming for the entire Borough, which will also serve to promote health & wellness while supporting our small business community.

Perhaps most fulfilling has been the work I've done with our Human Relations Commission & Police Department, including engaging in difficult, but necessary & productive conversations about bias, racism & social justice here in Haddonfield (and beyond). I hope my work to address individual resident concerns and broader national movements has enabled residents to feel they have a safe space to share experiences and seek responsive action. In the past year, this has included participation in anti-bias trainings, peaceful marches & protests, virtual meetings, and presentations. Moving forward, I remain ready, willing & able to support our residents - especially our student advocates - in their work for social justice. A diversity audit, training for staff & volunteers, and outreach efforts, are just some of the items on my list to accomplish if re-elected.
Given that my husband and I are small business owners with an office here in Haddonfield, I am also incredibly committed to supporting our local business community. I have undertaken a number of proactive steps to do so over the past year, including the creation of a micro grant program, and work with board members of the Partnership for Haddonfield and local landlords to evaluate everything from events & marketing to staffing & programming. I've also taken part in virtual conferences and continued research over the past year so that if re-elected, I can move forward with grant proposals, economic development strategies and collaborative efforts with other governmental agencies in order to positively impact our business community and strengthen the local economy.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I believe my work over the past 17 months as Director of Public Affairs & Public Safety, most of which has been during the COVID-19 pandemic, is the best indicator of my ability to not only handle, but also succeed, in this role. From developing Haddonfield Helps, to obtaining grant awards, to developing a new affordable housing policy, I am very proud of what I have accomplished in my short time as Commissioner. I would also cite the relationships I've formed & maintained as evidence of my ability to lead & succeed in this role.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Perhaps one of the best pieces of advice given to me in my 20 years of local government work was to "nurture every relationship and respect others regardless of whether you align on a single issue." Disagreements are not only unavoidable, they are also essential to growth & improvement. I am eternally grateful for the lessons learned from others over the years.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

As a young person, I was that child who asked, "why?" and never settled for "because I said so," so I am committed to giving residents real answers - and working on their behalf to get answers when I don't have them. Importantly, I'm also willing to admit when I am wrong, or that I have processed new information, which has caused me to change my answer/position.

I firmly believe that we must work together to solve issues within the Borough, and that competent leadership includes reliance on others, including volunteers, staff & professionals. I believe that my knowledge, (life & work) experience, positive attitude, and proactive nature will benefit the entire Borough both in the short and long-term. I am excited to continue the work I began in 2019, and committed to leading by example for another four (4) years.