In light of Commissioner Kevin Roche’s resignation, Haddonfield will hold a special municipal election on Tuesday, Nov. 5 with two candidates – Bill Shanahan and Dave Siedell – vying for an open seat on the borough board of commissioners.
Name: Bill Shanahan
Age: 65
How many years have you lived in Haddonfield? 23
Married? Children? Grandchildren? My wife Shannon and I have lived in Haddonfield for more than 23 years. We raised two kids here, running between sports fields, school activities and then, suddenly, high-school graduation. They’re in college now and had an advantage because of the school district here in Haddonfield, so I appreciate the work done by our educators to prepare our kids to compete at the collegiate level.
School and degrees: Law degree from Rutgers and master’s in government administration from the University of Pennsylvania. Graduate of the US Army Command and General Staff College, a master’s level equivalent.
Profession: Director of Homeland Security at the DRPA (Delaware River Port Authority) for the last three years, formally director of Government Relations and Grants for more than 20 years. Licensed attorney in New Jersey and Pennsylvania focusing on USDA administrative law, helping farmers recover their wrongly denied crop insurance from the government.
Is this the first time you have run for commissioner? Yes
What is your involvement in the community? I’ve coached Little League, softball, and youth football in Haddonfield, connecting with the kids in our town and getting to know the parents. I served on many boards, including the borough zoning board. I was chair of the Philadelphia Area Regional Transit Security Working Group, South Jersey Tourism, and former chair of the Camden County Board of Social Services, as well as member of the Camden County Environmental Commission. Life member of the VFW and member of the American Legion.
Why are you running for an elected seat? (Answer exceeded requested 100 words)
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? (Answer exceeded requested 100 words)
Name: Dave Siedell
Age: 53
How many years have you lived in Haddonfield? I’ve been proud to call Haddonfield home for the past 25 years.
Married? Children? Grand children? My wife Kate and I have raised our three children here.
School and degree: Bachelor of science, Quantitative Business Analysis, from Penn State
Profession and service to community: Executive Director of the I.D.E.A. Team at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 2003. Three terms on the Haddonfield Board of Education and vice-president guiding decisions during COVID. Involved in leadership positions of local boards and nonprofits like the Haddonfield Civic Association, where I was President 2012-2013. I am and have been focused on Haddonfield.
Is this the first time you have run for the seat on the board of commissioners? Yes.
What is your involvement in the community? I enjoy being actively involved in our local events and supporting local schools and nonprofits. Also a member of the Haddon Umpire Association.
Why are you running for an elected seat? I’m running for commissioner because I believe Haddonfield can thrive by fostering greater transparency, trust, and engagement with our local government. I want to ensure that our community’s future 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?”
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
If elected, I will concentrate on fostering greater transparency and public engagement by working with the other commissioners. I believe residents should be informed and involved in key decisions, with clear communication about the reasoning behind each vote. By promoting open dialogue, we can build trust and ensure the community’s voice is heard. I will also focus on smart development, ensuring projects like Bancroft meet affordable housing, open space, and infrastructure needs without straining resources. Collaborating with my fellow commissioners, I aim to create a more transparent and engaged approach for Haddonfield’s future.
More candidate information can be found on the borough website at https://www.haddonfieldnj.org
Polls on Election Day will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit the website for a list of polling places. Preliminary results will be announced – typically around 8:30 p.m. on Election Day – in the borough hall auditorium. All candidates will be notified.
