Meet The Haddonfield Commissioner Candidate: Daniel Zhang

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. 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: Daniel Zhang.

Age (as of Election Day)

19

Family

Father, mother, sister

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

In college

Occupation

College student, 1 year

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

danzhang2021.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

2020 was a year of extreme turmoil. Every time I saw a headline with bad news, I got more and more frustrated, because I felt powerless. I am running for commissioner because I want to do my part, on a local level, to help empower people and alleviate town frustrations. There are a lot of national issues that are popular with the youth, but I think more of us should get involved with what's going on here at home. We have a lot of problems that seemingly nothing is being done about, and the more people we have working towards a common goal, the more likely we'll achieve it.

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

The most pressing issue is definitely the affordability of living in Haddonfield. Property taxes are through the roof, and the town has to pay fines to the state every year because of how expensive we've made it. This causes even more unnecessary costs to the town through expensive litigation and sometimes lawsuits. That, in turn, increases property taxes further, which creates a vicious cycle of needing more money because we are putting band-aids on the problem instead of solving it at the root. My platform, as a whole, will allow us to lower property taxes by creating other opportunities for tax revenue.

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

Besides the obvious difference of age, race, and culture, I think I am the most practical, logical candidate in terms of how I address problems. This is demonstrated in my studies of computer science, which requires a lot of critical thinking to complete projects. I also have firsthand experience with some of the hands-on duties of the town from participating in the fire department's fire explorer program for three years. I think my extremely quick and sharp-mind, as well as an unbreakable focus, was proven by being a semifinalist at the annual international Tetris tournament, CTWC, in 2019. On top of that, I have an understanding of a culture none of the other candidates completely comprehend. The culture of today's youth and young adults, is something one can only truly understand when assimilated in it. Growing up on internet culture and having experienced the rapid shifts in it, I could have predicted many successes and failures of educational and town attempts to influence the youth. Our town needs not just lofty promises or a padded resume, but someone with tangible qualities, that of an effective public servant.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

I think the current board is not being as proactive as they should be when it comes to the issue of living costs. We need to do something about this problem now before it spirals out of control and the state forces us to fix it. Currently, the town has simply been putting the burden on all of us instead of trying to fix the underlying issues.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

A couple of important issues are

1. Diversity: Low diversity has hurt Haddonfield both culturally and in its reputation. However, I wish to clear up an often repeated misconception: the lack of diversity in Haddonfield is not the problem, it is a symptom of the problem stemming from deeply rooted systematic issues. I will promote diversity through my policies and make Haddonfield a truly more accepting and culturally colorful place. Our campaign seeks to bring about the diversity we so often champion in our schools and community, achieving actual representation.

2. Environmental: Haddonfield should be a prime example of an eco-friendly and aware community. I am planning to create a re-planting policy that guarantees the maintenance and upkeep of trees in the area, as well as other flora. I also hope to increase partnerships with organizations such as Rutgers University, which currently helps support Hopkins Pond and its wildlife.

3. Schools: Our schools' state wide ranking have been dropping due to something completely out of the BOE's control: diversity. We cannot allow this to continue as the BOE and our students work together and hard to improve our school's education and quality, and their work is being unfairly hampered by an aspect they cannot change on their own. My policies on fostering greater community diversity will have a trickle down effect on our schools.

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

My recent graduate from HMHS can verify my experience with understanding the breadth of problems facing our education system. Similarly, as a remote college student, I have first hand seen the impact of COVID-19 on daily life, such as its impact on learning, social interaction, athletic activities, and more. Having served as a fire explorer at the Haddonfield Fire Department for 3 years, I have tangible experience in community service. Lastly, as a CTWC semifinalist, I demonstrated my dedication and focus to everything I do.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

"Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own." -Bruce Lee

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

I know some people think that I am too young. This is a point I have often come across from many people, asking about my age and arguing that I am too young at only 19. However, I argue that nobody should be judged on age, just as nobody should be judged on race, height, or something else that cannot be changed. Rather, one must only be judged by their strength of character. I hope that nobody truly believes that a 19-year-old cannot contribute as much as a 40-year-old to their communities, as one of my personal goals (but also will be a side effect of my campaign) is to create a movement among the town's youth, of a scale never seen before, participating in our local government.