Cherry Hill Township Council Election 2024: Mohammed Jawaad Hussain

CHERRY HILL, NJ — Election Day in Cherry Hill will feature a series of choices at the local level, including the race for Township Council.

Cherry Hill has two separate Township Council elections on the ballot — both to finish the terms of council members who left the governing body before the end of their elected terms.

• Related: Cherry Hill 2024 Election: Sample Ballots, Candidates, Voter Info

Patch sent questions to all council candidates and will publish responses as they're received. All candidate profiles will be re-shared closer to Election Day, which is Nov. 5.

Mohammed Jawaad Hussain is an independent candidate running for a one-year, unexpired term on the council. He sent Patch the following responses:

Mohammed Jawaad Hussain

• Age: 41
• Education: BA Swarthmore College, Swarthmore PA; MD SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NJ; Pediatric Residency St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA
• Occupation: Pediatrician
• Campaign website: VoteMJH.com
• Previous elected/appointed office: None

What drove you to seek public office?

My decision to run for Cherry Hill Town Council was very much inspired by many recent statements by the US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy. The Office of the Surgeon General has been sounding the alarms about the mental health crises affecting American families—whether its worsening childhood depression, the epidemic of loneliness, or undue parental stress. To confront these grave problems, we need community solutions. When I look at the current Cherry Hill township council, it is predominantly staffed by lawyers and businesspeople—there are no healthcare workers; shocking given the high density of hospitals and healthcare systems in the area. I felt compelled to stand up and try to do my part to help.

What sets you apart from the rest of the candidates?

My responsibility is to consider well-being and health at every opportunity; for children, for parents, for neighbors, for our community in general. Whether or not I'm elected, this responsibility will not change. What sets me apart IS that duty: I will approach proposals and projects in terms of effect on wellness and happiness.

The state's Route 70 project has brought difficulties to the township, especially for businesses and nearby residents impacted by road closures and detours. With the project being state-run and projected to last for several more years, what should the township do to help reduce these challenges for the public and for businesses?

When the construction on route 70 started, my biggest concern was the effect on the livelihoods of the people who work at the stores along the road. Not just in the short term (with the confusing signage and difficult to maneuver entrances) but in the long-term (wider road making it harder to pull off into those store fronts). I am already saddened to learn my favorite Wawa along that route will be closing down.

In the short term, I believe bigger/better designed signs showing safe entrance and egress points would help folks access these storefronts. Unfortunately, in the long-term I believe the economic harm is permanent—a wider road makes it harder to make an impulsive stop and that is something beyond the Cherry Hill Township Council ability to fix.

The township currently prohibits dispensaries and other cannabis businesses, but officials have discussed the possibility of amending those rules in the past. Should Cherry Hill allow for the zoning of cannabis businesses within the township? And if so, to what extent?

As a pediatrician, I am cautious about the use of any psycho-active drugs. While cannabis has definite medical benefits (e.g. refractory epilepsy, pain management while receiving chemotherapy) the abuse and addiction potential cannot be ignored. (The current estimated number of people in the USA with cannabis use disorder is 3 million). Beyond that, I have many personal experiences taking care of teenagers suffering from the direct toxic effects of marijuana use, from cannaboid hyperemesis to frank psychosis. Studies show cannabis use in young adult and teenagers increase risk of mental health disorders like depression and is associated with increased motor vehicle accidents. I do not believe our community would benefit from allowing marijuana dispensaries to open within Cherry Hill's borders.

Like many governments across the state, Cherry Hill Township has long contracted with entities affiliated with people who have now been indicted in the George Norcross case. One of the defendants, William Tambussi, claimed nearly $180,000 in 2023 for legal services for Cherry Hill. As the criminal case plays out, should the township commit to no longer entering contracts with people and entities tied to the alleged misconduct?

Individuals are innocent until proven guilty. That being said, if there is a strong reason to doubt someone's ability to fulfill a contract (like imminent incarceration), that stands as a sufficient reason to prevent entering new contracts.