Election 2023: Berkeley Township Council Candidate Keith Buscio

BERKELEY, NJ — Election Day is nearing, and Berkeley voters will head to the polls to cast their votes for three Township Council seats.

Patch sent questionnaires to all candidates seeking their responses. Here is the response from incumbent Councilman Keith Buscio.

Editor's Note: Patch sent out emails to all candidates to the email addresses listed for their campaign provided to the office of the clerk. The responses received will be published between now and the Nov. 7 general election. These responses will be published edited only for style. Candidates who would like to participate but did not receive one (for whatever reason) can contact veronica.flesher@patch.com.

Name - Keith Buscio

Age - 55

Party affiliation - Republican

Education - Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration - Monmouth University; Master of Business Administration - Georgian Court University.

Occupation - Bank Executive

Family - Unmarried

Previous public office experience - Berkeley Township Council 2016 to present; Central Regional Board of Education 2005 to 2015.

Why are you running for this position? I want to continue the work the current Mayor and Council are doing to keep Berkeley Township clean, safe, affordable, and a great place to raise a family or retire.

What separates you from the other candidates? I've lived in Berkeley Township for more than 35 years. I grew up here. I know the town and the needs of its residents. My education, background, and experience set me apart. I've also served on the Berkeley Township Municipal Utilities Authority, and Berkeley Township Zoning Board of Adjustment.

What do you think is the most pressing issue in the town and how do you intend to address it? Over the past four years, the Mayor and Township Council have worked tirelessly on the preservation of open space. By partnering with the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust, we've successfully preserved thousands of acres of open space in Berkeley Township. We've also made significant upgrades to the Township's ballfields, parks and recreation areas.

If elected, what do you hope to accomplish? To continue listening to residents' concerns and working collaboratively with the governing body on solutions that makes sense for everyone.

One issue that many are focused on is the redevelopment of the former Beachwood Mall site. What do you think is the best course of action? The Mayor and Township Council are working closely with the redeveloper of record on a comprehensive plan that will remediate the environmental issues of the property, while developing the site with clean retail establishments that provide jobs for local residents.