Meet The Haddonfield Commissioner Candidate: Mark Rusc

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: Mark Rusc

Age (as of Election Day)

46

Family

Wife and 3 Childern

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering

Occupation

Chief Operating Officer (Electrical Engineer 21 years experience)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Chair Person Haddonfield HPC

Campaign website

www.voteRusc.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

Like most residents in Haddonfield, life didn’t allow me to pay full attention to everything going on in our Borough. Serving as the chair of the Haddonfield Historic Commission I noticed many decisions being made behind closed doors with little to no input from the public. I believe Haddonfield is at a crucial time where decisions being made right now will have long-term effects on our community, its character, charm, and financial well-being. I am running for Commissioner because I believe these upcoming decisions need to be made in the most transparent, and fully evaluated manner possible. I think we should encourage and be open to utilizing all the talent that our Borough residents have to offer. We are so lucky to have experts in every field and who are willing to help. I wholeheartedly believe that we can make better decisions together going forward.

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

We have a few concurrent critical issues going on that everyone may not be aware. Bancroft, affordable housing locations, and BoxWood / Lullworth Halls. These are all different, and complicated issues but are interconnected. They also need time to properly analyze openly and work with everyone to find the best solutions. There is some urgency though, I think we should address certain aspects of all these issues immediately:

In the case of Bancroft, everyone needs to fully understand what the Current Commissioners signed us up for and does it make sense for Haddonfield. We then need to address the risk to the community of the dilapidated vacant buildings sitting there for years. The complete site should be demolished and leveled for open space until a proper transparent plan is put together to move forward.

For the proper density and placement of affordable housing in Haddonfield, we need to get a committee of folks together to come up with an analysis of alternatives that is best for both the new residents and the Borough. We need to work together on this type of plan ASAP and meet with the NJ Housing Officials and NJ Judge hearing the case to allow us to come up with a better plan for our whole community.

BoxWood and Lullworth Halls are literally falling apart in front of our eyes. These are important pieces of Haddonfield’s History that must be respected and preserved. We as a Borough should not be in the real estate business. This is where helping the right opportunities happen while preserving the character of Haddonfield is key to addressing a solution.

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

I believe my diverse background gives me an edge when solving issues. I also support multiple organizational government projects working with all players to achieve success.

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

Unfortunately the lack of transparency, and poor closed door deals done with the current administration has positioned Haddonfield, and the new future Commissioners in a reactionary position in solving our communities issues.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Addressing the ability to live in Haddonfield after 55, well more like 68 for most of us. Seriously though, having an option for folks to remain in the town they love without going bankrupt must be looked at as a factor when we address Bancroft, and our Master Plan. These issues also play into making our Downtown as successful as possible (Kings Hwy and Haddon Ave), and the Borough”s parking problem. Affordable senior housing options must be a key consideration moving forward in the Borough.

We live in a premiere South Jersey community, yet have limited substandard youth sports facilities. I know we are size restricted, but we need to think out of the box. With the resources we have in town, we can find ways to expand the youth facilities we need without burdening the residents with a bill.

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

At all stages of my career as an electrical engineer I have achieved success by finding solutions most others did not recognize. As a consultant, I am brought in to fix and put major programs back on track. I identify the root causes of problems, find & implement efficiencies, and follow through to successfully completion.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

The best time to do the right thing is when no one is looking!

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

I wholeheartedly believe that a person does not have the right to complain unless they are willing to help. I would ask voters to research each of the candidates running and ask themselves who would make up the best team to address our issues. If the voters are looking for a candidate who has integrity, listens first, has the skills to collaborate, and is not afraid to tackle the tough problems head on & openly. Thank you for your time, and consideration. On May 11th, please vote Rusc for Commissioner.