Candidate Profile: Seema Kazmi For Falls Township Supervisor

Seema Kazmi is running for Township Supervisor in Falls.

Age (as of Election Day): 37

Party Affiliation: Democratic Party

Family: Single

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?: My mother worked for the NJ State Health Department as a Toxicologist.

Education: University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy), 2006

Occupation: Pharmacist for 15 years with experience in the pharmaceutical industry, pharmacy benefit management, and community pharmacy.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: None

Campaign website: www.facebook.com/DrSeemaKazmi

Why are you seeking elective office?

We need to hit the “reset button” in Falls Township. I want to work towards a vibrant future for Falls Township. I grew up here and attended the Pennsbury School District and want to give back. Also, I welcome grassroots participation from residents in our local government. We are struggling with opioid overdoses, lack of a robust business footprint, and environmental and cleanliness concerns. I want to help with these issues.

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

We have a lack of a robust local economy and business footprint. There are multiple vacant retail lots and abandoned buildings. Some of these buildings are collecting dust. Residents want to spend their money here, but don’t really have as many options as there could be. The Falls Township “Live Here. Spend Here.” Campaign has become the “Live Here. Spend Where?” Campaign. Businesses leave Falls Township and don’t come back.

I would like to review the regulatory requirements for operating a business in Falls Township and do benchmarking with area townships as to best practices. The first step is to acknowledge that there is a problem. There are current township supervisors that believe that “Business is booming." Not so.

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

I will provide a different and unique perspective to the Board as a pharmacist to address our community's opioid epidemic and support our local business community. We need to have people on the Board with diverse professional experiences. As a pharmacist, I have worked on the frontlines battling the opioid epidemic. I want to help fight the opioid epidemic that our community is struggling with. We need to do more outreach programs to better connect our residents to resources that will get them the help that they need. Moreover, I have worked for independent community pharmacies and understand the challenges of running a local business and the vitality provided to our community. I will bring this experience to the Board to serve our residents’ needs.

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

Residents want a greater sense of community, employment opportunities, local business footprint, and a positive atmosphere. I believe that current Board members did not adequately support our local businesses during the pandemic. Municipal governments in other parts of the country leveraged technology and supported businesses having an online presence. However, Falls Township simply instituted a $50 gift card program that did not have a long-term sustainable benefit. As noted on the Township's website, many gift cards had not even been picked up by residents. This money could have been spent on IT assistance to local businesses to build an online presence or an app to pool for delivery drivers. I have yet to hear how much did businesses in Falls Township receive in CARES funding that was passed last year by Congress when the pandemic hit.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

We need to have regular monthly meetings for the Disabled Persons Advisory Board (DPAB), as do other townships. The purpose of DPAB is to provide education on the Americans with Disabilities Act and provide outreach to those with disabilities and educate the community as to the needs of the disabled. Currently, Falls Township’s DPAB only meets on an “as needed” basis. Furthermore, I would have a Supervisor Liaison attend these meetings. We need to do better to support those who have disabilities in our community.

Moreover, I want to implement career-development and training programs for our residents for jobs in future industries. This is also to bring companies that will invest here and provide jobs in the township.

Additionally, each Falls Township department serves a particular function that contributes to our daily lives. The Parks and Recreation Department works to ensure that our parks are well-maintained, so residents can enjoy our natural environment. I also support funding our first-responders, police and fire departments. They provide vital services to the community and should have the resources that they need to do their important work.

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

I have done advocacy on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC and with state legislators in Harrisburg, PA for people with diabetes, heart disease, rare diseases, and disabilities. I have served as a team leader for advocates to promote various causes and have been successful in working with legislators to pass legislative changes and new laws. I would work with the community, the Board, and various stakeholders to ensure that Falls Township prospers and that we implement policies that will bring us towards a brighter future.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Never get complacent and to live fearless.

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

I am not a career politician. I am doing this out of sincere concern for my fellow neighbors, friends, and community members. I know there are those who have been on the board for a while or who were appointed for a short term, but we need to change the trajectory of this township. I want to be that agent of change for the betterment of our community.