Politics & Government

Candidate Questionnaire: Ziad Shehady

Challenging candidate addresses issues in questionnaire.

Springfield Patch asked the two candidates vying for the open seat on the Township Committee to answer a series of questions about their campaigns and Springfield. The candidates were asked the same questions. Challenging candidate and Republican Ziad Shehady's responses are below. 

Why are you running for office? Why should people vote for you?

I love public service in every sense! In 2001, I was chosen to attend the American Legion Boys’ State program and it instilled in me a sense of civic responsibility and appreciation for the sacrifice of our nation’s veterans. I didn’t fully appreciate or understand how to apply these lessons until I returned from my own Army deployment. I won’t sit on the sidelines. I worked for the late Assemblyman Dr. Eric Munoz and the experience moved me to become more proactive in my own community. I care a great deal about Springfield and the residents who make our town such a wonderful place to live! For as long as I lived in town, I’ve always heard promises of better things to come.  I want to be part of the solution.  If elected, I will bring energy and creativity to our numerous departments.  I will make it a priority to ensure effective representation in Springfield. I am willing to devote time and energy to improving our community and working with Springfield’s best interest in mind.  I am committed to creating positive change in Springfield.

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You and your opponent have both served the Township for a year as Mayor. Of what accomplishment are you most proud from your tenure?

There are many specific and easily identifiable accomplishments that I am proud of, such as the launch of our local television station or our new Do-Not-Knock registry, but the greatest achievement was the change in atmosphere of municipal government in Springfield.  When I was elected in 2007, Township Committee meetings were a sham with most business being discussed and decided in a backroom.  Through my e-newsletter, use of social media, holding open office hours and changing the meeting schedule, residents felt that their government was accessible, transparent and responsive to their needs. This dialogue with taxpayers enabled me to push for the creation of the downtown Springfield Special Improvement District and work with the Board of Education to negotiate a deal for the development of a turf field.

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What are the most pressing public safety issues facing Springfield and how would you address them if elected?

Public safety departments, such as our Police, Fire and First Aid, must not only account for geography but density.  Because of the 2 development projects that were approved a few years ago, Springfield will see a significant increase in population and the corresponding demand on our public safety resources.  The initial knee-jerk reaction may be to simply hire more but that may not be possible given budget constraints and so we will have to look at efficient ways of meeting that demand in order to do more with less.  Public safety, as we saw during the recent natural disasters, is also affected by our infrastructure which needs to be maintained and improved.  Specifically, our flood mitigation plan needs to be revised and I plan on being a strong advocate for upgrades to our electric system.

What are the most pressing economic issues facing Springfield and how would you address them if elected?

The most pressing economic issue facing Springfield is the 2 percent cap.  Right or wrong, it is a fiscal reality now that must be dealt with. Right or wrong, it is a fiscal reality now that must be dealt with.  When expenses required to operate, such as the Rahway Valley Sewerage Authority, utilities and insurance, increase greater than 2 percent then there is absolutely no wiggle room for services residents expect.  That leaves no other choices but to make cuts to services to offset the increases and stay under the cap.  Taxes can't be raised and so the only other options are to find new revenue and cut operating costs by finding new ways of doing things in order to avoid cutting services.

What’s the best thing about Springfield?

Springfield is a wonderful town perfectly situated in New Jersey, that is home to talented, diverse, and enthusiastic residents. One of the things I absolutely love about Springfield is the rich history.  It never ceases to amaze me that Springfield is the site of the Battle of Springfield and that General George Washington once walked through town.

What is the biggest challenge facing Springfield?

For several years, I worked as a Legislative Aide for the late Assemblyman Dr. Eric Munoz and just this year for Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz representing Springfield in Trenton.  I saw neighboring communities take advantage of the many opportunities available as a result of building relationships with other levels of government; county, state and federal.  Springfield is behind the curve and our colleagues are passing us by.  One of the biggest challenges facing Springfield is the ability of our government to keep up with the fast pace of these times and meet the ever-changing and numerous demands of our community.  Our Township Committee form of government has served us well for many years but as one of the oldest forms of government, it is not well-suited for Springfield anymore.  We have seen the Township Committee devolve into a political playground with the significance of a school student council.  The residents of Springfield deserve the right to elect their own Mayor who will be held accountable to the voters and can carry out long-term goals that go beyond a one-year term.  A professional organization does not survive by planning year-to-year but rather by developing long-term goals and business plans.  Right now, with an election every year, there is no continuity, no consistency and a new agenda every January.

What is the most important difference between you and your opponent?

I am a strong leader who is not afraid of challenges.  My opponent boasts that he doubled the number of meetings and brought civility and responsiveness to public meetings.  However, anyone can schedule more dates to meet and accomplish or do nothing in order to avoid controversy.  For far too long in Springfield, there was no debate; this resulted in rubber-stamping bad decisions and keeping problems quiet by sweeping them under the rug. Decisions were made in "workshop sessions" out of the public eye and there was no accountability.  I changed that in 2010 but in 2011, things went backwards. Disagreement and debate is a healthy part of democracy that should lead to compromise.  Not everyone will get what they want, but there should be a respect for the decision if it was arrived in fairly and openly.  This year, Mr. Fernandez was shut out of the discussions related to the turf field and we saw a massive public uproar because Mr. Keffer and Mr. Huber secretly decided to remove all the basketball hoops around town because they didn't want to inform and engage the residents.  It's no surprise there was "civility" when there was nothing being done.

Politicians are too afraid of rolling up their sleeves and getting to work on the hard stuff because they want to hold onto their office.  I am willing to put myself out there in the community.  President Theodore Roosevelt is quoted as saying, "People ask the difference between a leader and a boss...The leader works in the open, and the boss in covert."  I am an Army officer and I have state and local government experience.  A Lieutenant Colonel noted on one of my performance evaluations that I am an "extremely flexible leader whose maturity allows him to confidently make correct and spontaneous decisions related to ever changing demands."  What sets me apart from my opponent is that I actually have management experience.  His criticism of what he mistakenly thinks is "micro-managing" is typical of the hands-off approach so many people in Springfield have become sick of because it leads to chaos.  OurfFirehouse was poorly constructed and was built on contaminated land that we are still dealing with because a Mayor did not know how to manage.  In 2008, a previous Fire Chief was charged with forgery for allegedly rigging a firefighters entrance exam because a Mayor did not want to manage.  Unnecessary overtime was racked up in the Police Department because a Police Chief was not managed and lawsuit after lawsuit was filed against the town because of a lack of management.  Just this past week, JCP&L refused to provide power restoration updates because of a lack of pressure.  Residents seem to agree things are not going well and that's because the leadership has been complacent and too lax.  Springfield deserves strong leadership that demands excellence for your tax dollars.

What is the best thing you believe your opponent has done for Springfield?

The best thing Mr. Keffer has done for Springfield is allow the Public Safety Director to continue helping the Police and Fire Departments transform into top-notch, professional organizations that are fiscally prudent.  The Public Safety Director has been leading by example with his knowledge, proficiency and expertise.  Training and evaluations have taken on a whole new meaning for the better.  He has uncovered and corrected irregularities that cost the town thousands of dollars.  In this regard, Mr. Keffer did not allow political rhetoric to take control of government and he did the right thing in letting the Public Safety Director finish the work he started last year.


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