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Haddonfield residents Bill Shanahan and Dave Siedell are both running for a seat on the borough commission. The winner will complete the unexpired term of outgoing commissioner Kevin Roche. All three local government seats will be up for consideration in the spring municipal election.
Both candidates have been invited to reply to the same set of prompts, telling voters about themselves, their priorities, and their views of the current state of affairs in their community. Answers have been edited for clarity and length.
Bill Shanahan, 65
Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) Director of Homeland Security
NJ PEN: Tell us something about your hobbies, interests, and family.
SHANAHAN: My wife Shannon and I have lived in Haddonfield for more than 20 years.
We raised our two awesome kids here, running between sports fields, school activities, and then, suddenly, high-school graduation.
They’re in college now, and they had an advantage because of the Haddonfield school district, so I appreciate the work done by our educators to prepare our kids to compete at the collegiate level.
I retired from the U.S. Army after more than 32 years of active and reserve duty as an Aviation Branch Lieutenant Colonel. I miss the camaraderie of being part of something bigger than myself, and everyone pushing in the same direction. I also miss flying gunships, but there is a logic to the seasons.
I enjoy all Philadelphia sports teams as well as Rutgers and SEC football. I used to coach my kids’ baseball and softball teams, and love the spirit of volunteerism in this town. I have an old Harley Davidson Electra Glide that I occasionally get a chance to ride, and an old Corvette waiting for me to restore.
NJ PEN: What is your philosophy of government?
SHANAHAN: The government is responsible for managing the day-to-day business of the people. This is a responsibility that I take seriously. A municipal government must be attentive to the traditional lanes of the services that have an everyday impact on the residents, and must not waste resources. However, a municipality should evolve as its citizens do, and proceed deliberately when needed.
NJ PEN: What personal and professional experiences would you bring to the table as a borough commissioner?
SHANAHAN: I have more than three decades of government and military experience. I retired from the U.S. Army at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, earning Senior Army Aviator Wings, an Air Assault Badge, and a Bronze Star.
I’ve been deployed to Afghanistan, where I served as the executive officer of the Counter-Insurgency Training Center, and then as an Afghan District Governor’s Advisor.
I mention this because I have my leadership abilities have been demonstrated and tested; as is more relevant to this situation, I have the ability to work as part of a high-functioning team.
I also have 25 years of civilian government experience: 20 years as the Director of Government Relations at DRPA, and three years as its Director of Homeland Security. I have long-established working relationships in both areas that will help the borough in dealing with larger issues.
While working in government, I’ve put together public departmental budgets, both operating and capital, for more than 25 years. My responsibilities included securing and managing $150 million in federal grants, and 25 government audits of my work have produced no adverse findings.
Budgeting for a government entity is different from budgeting in the private sector. It’s not designed to be flexible, nor should it be, because it’s all public funds. We must plan, communicate, ask for input, get consensus, budget, and then execute that budget. Public-sector budgeting is a different skill set, and I am experienced in it.
I hold a law degree from Rutgers Law School and a master’s degree in government administration from the University of Pennsylvania, with a focus on fiscal and budgetary skills. I’m also a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, which is a master’s level equivalent.
I am an attorney licensed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania with a focus on USDA administrative law, helping farmers recover crop insurance funds from the government when their claims have been wrongfully denied.
I have served on the boards of many governing bodies, including the Haddonfield Zoning Board, the Philadelphia Area Regional Transit Security Working Group, which I chair; and South Jersey Tourism. I’m a former chair of the Camden County Board of Social Services, a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), a member of the American Legion, and the American Bar Association (ABA).
NJ PEN: Why are you running for office?
SHANAHAN: At the Haddonfield Civic Association candidate forum, I was reminded of a Haddonfield Sun article in which I was quoted.
I had told the reporter that, while home on leave from Afghanistan, I went for a run. Running down Kings Highway, I caught myself channeling George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life, saying to myself, “Hello, old high school; hello, old Starbucks.” This is a wonderful place to live, work, and raise our kids.
It was a privilege and an honor to serve my country. I want to use my training, education, and abilities to help our community stay awesome and true to the spirit of community that it has shown me for the last 23 years I’ve lived here.
There are many issues that need attention, and my experience, skill set, and steady temperament will help us navigate these matters.
NJPEN: What are the biggest challenges your community faces?
SHANAHAN: Bancroft is the current, most noted, challenge that we must navigate with transparency and consensus to ameliorate its impacts to the borough. These might include negotiating a county green space purchase, reducing the number of units onsite, or possibly getting a portion of the units dedicated to seniors.
Ordinances regarding zoning and building are antiquated. We’re “zoning by variance,” and the zoning process adds costs — as much as $3,000 to the homeowner — before a contractor starts the project. We need to review and rewrite these ordinances to allow the building inspector to approve these applications.
Requirements for new construction should be changed. Builders are constructing new or substantially rebuilt homes on smaller lots. They increase building footprints by removing driveway space and pushing cars to park overnight on the street.
In actuality, we are punishing residents for improvements, and incentivizing builders to build right up to the limits and outside of the character of the neighborhoods and town. If we tighten up these ordinances, houses would be proportionate with their neighborhood context, and would be more affordable.
Infrastructure is a challenge. We must address old stormwater drainage systems and new state environmental requirements. Stormwater knows no municipal boundaries, and downstream outfalls that are clogged by obstacles can increase the damage done.
This is a multi-jurisdictional problem. We need to approach it that way, and have the county take the lead. State-administered federal grants could help once a strategic plan is developed.
Recent burglaries around town are concerning. I have the experience to help the police and public safety director find new resources and solutions to help fend off these types of crimes.
Crows Woods is in dire need of rehabilitation. It’s an old municipal dump, and glass is starting to migrate up to the top. It needs to be capped properly to current environmental standards to keep our kids safe. I‘ll work with the administration on a grant for this issue.
NJ PEN: What are three key issues on which you will focus if elected?
SHANAHAN:
- Working with the other commissioners to create a comprehensive review of the Bancroft project and negotiate with the builder to ameliorate the impacts of the project on the borough.
- Zoning ordinance review and updates.
- Review of the operating and capital budgets for grant opportunities.
Dave Siedell, 53
Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
NJ PEN: Tell us something about your hobbies, interests, and family.
SIEDELL: I’ve been proud to call Haddonfield home for the past 25 years. My wife, Kate, and I have raised our three children, Meggie, Jack, and Patrick here.
Meg and Jack are at Drexel and Rowan, respectively, and Patrick is a Junior at St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia.
In my free time, I enjoy being actively involved in our local events, and supporting causes that help our community thrive.
I’ve also been a strong supporter of our local schools and nonprofits. I am a proud member of the Haddon Umpire Association, and can be found on a baseball field calling balls and strikes on many spring and fall weekends.
NJ PEN: What is your philosophy of government?
SIEDELL: I believe that government should be transparent, responsive, and deeply engaged with its residents. Leaders must listen to the voices of the public, and must rely on the expertise of our public service professionals to make informed decisions that are in the best interest of everyone.
Transparency builds trust, and I’m committed to ensuring that decisions are made openly and with community input. Governments are institutions, and the people that serve in them are part of that institutional fabric. They should never be bigger than their positions.
NJ PEN: What personal and professional experiences would you bring to the table as a borough commissioner?
SIEDELL: As Executive Director of Teaching and Learning at Wharton, I manage an $8-million operating budget and a staff of 32 people, overseeing strategic decisions that shape future business leaders.
I’ve served three terms on the Haddonfield Board of Education (BOE), where I chaired the finance committee, and helped develop a $37 million yearly budget. I was also BOE vice-president during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, throughout which I helped guide decision-making.
Both experiences have proven I am ready and able to take on this new role to oversee borough operations and manage public resources effectively. I also bring deep involvement in leadership positions in local boards and nonprofits like the Haddonfield Civic Association. I am, and have been, Focused on Haddonfield.
NJ PEN: Why are you running for office?
SIEDELL: I’m running for Commissioner because I believe Haddonfield can thrive by fostering greater transparency, trust, and engagement with our local government. I strongly believe we have gotten away from these core values, and want to help restore that trust.
I want to ensure that the future of our community is secure for generations to come by partnering with our schools, our local businesses, and residents. We need to have a working relationship between the administration and the community so that future leaders don’t get asked, “Who would want THAT job?”
NJ PEN: What are the biggest challenges your community faces?
SIEDELL: Haddonfield faces several challenges, including managing redevelopment projects like Bancroft and Woodmont, addressing infrastructure and aging systems, absorbing and implementing mandates, maintaining the vibrancy of our downtown, and balancing budget pressures.
We also need to support public safety while ensuring transparency and civil discourse.
NJ PEN: What are three key issues on which you will focus if elected?
SIEDELL:
- Transparency and Public Engagement: I will prioritize open communication, ensuring residents are informed and heard in key decisions. They will know my vote is mine, and they will know the thinking that went into the decisions and conclusions I make.
- Smart Development: Ensuring that development projects, like Bancroft, meet the needs of affordable housing, open space, and infrastructure without overwhelming our resources or unduly affecting any particular area or group of people.
- Public Safety and Community Support: Supporting the expertise of our police, fire department, and EMTs while exploring initiatives for citizen involvement. I believe in partnering with community groups, providing resources, guidance, and space to help their missions succeed.
