Former Haddonfield borough commissioner Neal Rochford has announced that he will seek to regain a seat on the board of commissioners at the municipal election scheduled for Tuesday, May 14.
Rochford was elected to the board in 2005 and served as director of revenue and finance for four years. He lost his bid for re-election in 2009 by a mere 8 votes.
That narrow margin inspired the slogan Rochford has adopted for his current campaign: “THIS time: Neal!”
“Since late January, people have been calling me and stopping me in the street, saying they hope I will run,” Rochford said. “I’m very gratified by these early signs of support, and also by the number of people who already have volunteered to serve on my campaign committee.”
Rochford said that as a lifelong resident he is passionate about Haddonfield. “I want to help ensure that Haddonfield remains the premier community in South Jersey,” he said, “recognized for having the best hometown feel, the best downtown shopping, the best schools, and the best community spirit.”
During his four years on the board, Rochford served alongside commissioners Tish Colombi and Ed Borden. All three of them describe it as a harmonious and productive experience. Both Colombi and Borden have publicly praised Rochford for his service as a commissioner, particularly for his diligent oversight of the townwide reassessment in 2008.
During his time away from the commission, Rochford helped found the Haddonfield Green Team, a community committee whose mission is to promote sustainable practices in Haddonfield. Their work resulted in Haddondfield’s becoming one of 36 municipalities to receive a bronze designation from Sustainable Jersey, the statewide organization that helps municipalities adopt and promote sustainable practices.
Neal Rochford’s community service extends back many years and includes terms as president of the Haddonfield Social Club, the Civic Association, and the Rotary Club; as a founding member of First Night Haddonfield (which included responsibility for negotiations that brought fireworks to the downtown on New Year’s Eve); as Rotary’s representative on the Municipal Alliance; as the borough’s representative on the Camden County Joint Insurance Fund and Health Insurance Fund; as a member of the Shade Tree Commission; and as a founding member and treasurer of the HATCH Dinosaur Committee.
Rochford’s volunteer contributions to the community were recognized in 2003 when he was named Citizen of the Year.
Neal Rochford is a member of the Haddonfield Memorial High School Class of 1978. He holds a degree in marketing from Stockton College and is a 2004 graduate of Leadership New Jersey, a statewide initiative that educates, empowers and engages talented leaders to create systemic change around New Jersey’s most challenging issues. He and his wife Laura have four children: Danielle works as a meeting planner in New York; Brenden is in college; Liam is a sophomore at HMHS; and Taryn is in seventh grade.
Haddondfield residents interested in supporting the Rochford campaign may contact Neal at 856–465–8721 or nealrochford@gmail.com.
A campaign website and Facebook page will be activated in the near future. Plans are being made for a campaign fundraiser at the Markeim Arts Center on the evening of Sunday, March 17.
Rochford has chosen green for his ribbon color.
