Election Profile: Tara Torchia Buss For Colts Neck Twp Committee

COLTS NECK, NJ – The New Jersey primary election on July 7 will challenge an array of candidates seeking to fill open seats at the town, county and state level. Two seats on the Colts Neck Township Committee will be open this November, with two candidates seeking to fill the spots. Incumbent Michael Viola is running to keep his seat, while Tara Torchia Buss aims for the second seat. Both Republicans are backed by the Monmouth County Republican Organization.

Buss, 45, is a current Monmouth County Committeewoman for District 7 and a Strategic Business Account Development Executive at T-Mobile. She formerly did business development consulting work in the healthcare industry and was a director and professor of public health at the University of Maryland College Park for 14 years.

Buss has a doctoral and master's degree in Public Health, as well as bachelor's degree in Health Education. She has two children, Jacob, 14, and Kennedy, 12.

Are you running for office in New Jersey? Contact Nicole Rosenthal at nicole.rosenthal@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Patch.

Why are you seeking elective office?

I grew up in the Colts Neck area, in fact, my first job was at Brock Farms in Colts Neck, and spent a great deal of my time in the wonderful parks and open spaces here. I want to insure and assure the town keeps the character that I grew up with, the character it currently possesses in which I now live, and for my, and our children into the future. We are at a pivotal time in Colts Neck in regards to affordable housing and business development. I am interested in seeking elective office so I can have a seat at the table while important decisions are being made. I have spent many years watching and getting to know the people in Colts Neck. I want to take this knowledge with me to the table to make sure our town's voice is heard.

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

Affordable housing is one of the most pressing issues facing Colts Neck today. I intend to keep the dialogue open with the people of Colts Neck and make sure decisions are made that reflect the community, our priorities and maintain the wonderful rural nature of the town, while understanding and respecting the need to evolve it.

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

My running mate, Michael Viola, who currently serves on the Township Committee has a great deal of experience behind the scenes in Colts Neck. This serves him well in his run for office. What I bring to the table is my involvement in the community. I am a mother with kids currently in the Colts Neck school system, currently playing Colts Neck sports, and involved in Colts Neck activities. I have also been involved with the Colts Neck Business Association as a small business owner in town. I feel these insights will serve the Committee well as we move forward together as a town.

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

I feel the current board is doing an excellent job. I believe as though the level of communication within the town has been positive and has continued to increase under the leadership of the current committee. I will continue this important practice to keep the citizens of Colts Neck apprised of important and pressing issues in the town..

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

As the world around us changes, we need to make sure that we find a BALANCE of keeping Colts Neck the special place that it is, allowing it to mature and evolve while enhancing the services and amenities a town like this should offer. We need to carefully architect a present and a future that aligns with the priorities of the residents and small businesses that make Colts Neck great.

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

I have served on the Board of Governors at the University of Maryland for over 5 years. In addition, I have served on the executive boards of several non-profits over the past 20 years. I have chaired over 100 events and programs for the Colts Neck Schools, Sports Foundation, and other nonprofits, both in and out of New Jersey. I have a keen aesthetic sensibility that I bring with me when I am involved in projects or events to take them to the next level. This has always guided me and contributed to my successful outcomes on boards and with events that I have been a part of. Since moving to Colts Neck, I have been involved in the Colts Neck PTO, Colts Neck Sports Foundation and Colts Neck Business Association, which has been a wonderful way to meet people in our town and create friendships for myself and my children that will last a lifetime.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

My father always taught me: "Anything in life worth having is worth working for" (Andrew Carnegie)

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

I think it's important to represent the people and be able to articulate and communicate their preferences and priorities. We need to have respect with how the town has evolved into one of the most cherished places to live, while allowing it to evolve to accommodate the people that have raised generations here and welcome those who want to call it home.