'I Practice What I Preach,' Bedminster Mayor Says

After nine years of service on the township committee, and eight years as mayor, Bedminster Township Mayor Robert Holtaway is stepping away from local politics.

Holtaway did not run for re-election in the 2012 elections, and re-elected committeeman Steve Parker will be serving as mayor in the coming year.

“I believe every office should have a term limit,” Holtaway said of his decision not to run again. “I practice what I preach.”

A 20-year resident of Bedminster Township, Holtaway first got involved in local politics in 1975, when a friend of his was a township engineer. At that time, Holtaway was a resident of North Plainfield, and he started as a member of the planning board there.

“I thought it would be interesting and so took the appointment,” he said. “From there, came all the others.”

From there, Holtaway served on the North Plainfield Zoning Board of Adjustment until 1992, and continued to serve in a variety of capacities for the township, as zoning officer, a member of Main Street North Plainfield Inc. and part of the North Plainfield Business Association.

Even after moving to Bedminster, Holtaway remained involved in both local and county politics, serving as a member of the Somerset County Economic Development Incentive Program for the revitalization of the boroughs in the southern section of the county. He also served as the president of the Somerset Hills Pony Club from 1998 to 1999.

In 1997, Holtaway began his service to Bedminster, serving as a member of the Bedminster Planning Board from 1997 to 2004, and then from 2006 through today.

In 2000 and 2001, Holtaway served as a member of the Bedminster Township Open Space Committee, as well as the Bedminster Township Municipal Building Committee, working on architect selection, development of the building layout and more.

And in 2004, Holtaway was elected to his first of three three-year terms on the township committee, serving as mayor in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

“I enjoy it, it’s that simple,” he said, of being part of Bedminster.

And aside from his work in Bedminster, Holtaway is the founder and president of Frank R. Holtaway & Son, Inc., an electrical engineering company based in Bedminster. A graduate of the Newark College of Engineering with a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering and Seton Hall University with a Masters degree in business administration, he founded the company in 1977.

Throughout his time on the Bedminster Township Committee, Holtaway said he has been pleased with several things he has managed to achieve over the years.

“First is the appointments and the hiring,” he said. “I’ve always considered that my most important job, and I believe I have been successful.

“Another is never having to initiate a lawsuit,” he added. “Nobody wins there.”

Despite Holtaway being out of the mayor’s office, he will not be out of Bedminster, or long forgotten.

A hike and bike trail, currently being constructed at River Road Park, is being named in Holtaway’s honor.

“When I first became mayor in 2004, I inherited a lawsuit between the town and neighbors over the development of River Road Park,” he said. “My goal was to create a plan that would settle the suit at minimum cost, provide a master plan for the entire park and obtain NJDEP approval to allow the master plan to be implemented.”

“It took nine years, but the plan is in place, the approvals are in hand and construction of the next phase of the hike and bike trail is underway,” he added.

Despite all his hard work, Holtaway said he is ready to step down, knowing the township is still in good hands.

“[I will take away] knowing that the township is well-staffed and with positive customer service ethics,” he said.

Now, Holtaway said, it is time for a little break.

“I have been in government service as an appointed or elected official for over 35 years,” he said. “I’m planning on a sabbatical.”