Election 2022: Randy Bishop, Howell Township Council

HOWELL, NJ — Democrat Randy Bishop is one of six candidates seeking three, full-term seats on the Howell Township Council in the Nov. 8 general election.

In these profiles, candidates provide voters with background about themselves and their positions on the issues, as they see them. Patch is publishing individual profiles leading up to the election.

Bishop says he is opposed to warehouse development in town, and is in favor of keeping local emergency dispatch services. He also says the township Master Plan needs to be reviewed to ensure the township's rural character is preserved. "We need to lay out a plan for preserving the rural character that brought me and others to Howell," said Bishop, who previously lived in Neptune Township and was an elected official there.

Read more from candidate Randy Bishop:

Name: Randy Bishop

Age: 64

Town of residence: Howell Township

Position sought: Councilman

Party affiliation: Democrat

Family: Married

Education: B.A. in Political Science, Boston University

Occupation: Director, Neptune Township Senior Services; Co-owner Peter Wallace Ltd. Antiques

Name the top issues currently facing your town and how you plan to address them:

The largest issue is the lack of proper planning in the Township. Poorly planned development is threatening the quality of life in our neighborhoods and destroying the rural character of Howell.

One example is our opponents’ support of mega warehouses. Our opponents want to bring in mega warehouses with over 300 loading docks that operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This will crowd our roads with thousands of trucks day and night. These trucks will destroy the roadbed and we will be stuck with the bill.

We must keep Emergency Dispatcher services local. Our opponents want to get rid of local emergency dispatch and pay the County to take care of our needs. It is a mistake to rely on the County for our Emergency Dispatch. I watched this happen in another municipality. I saw firsthand that dispatch times were slower. With local Emergency Dispatchers, we benefit from their knowledge of our town and our residents. We should control how the resources are deployed. Turning our safety over to county bureaucrats is a bad idea.

Identify specific goals or ideas you have to enhance life in your town:

• Preserve our quality of life and protect our town from over development.

The Republicans have refused to properly update the Township’s Master Plan for decades. I will lead a comprehensive review and update of the Township's Master Plan for development. This must include input from all residents from all parts of town. We need to lay out a plan for preserving the rural character that brought me and others to Howell. We need to encourage sensible commercial development while limiting the high density residential development so we can keep our taxes stable.

What in your experience or background prepares you for election to office:

• I have spent much of my life in public service, both in government and nonprofits. I am a past president, Coastal Habitat for Humanity.
• I have served on many boards from magnet schools to service delivery and housing initiatives.
• Finally, while living in my previous home in Ocean Grove, I spent 9 years as an elected official, including two terms as Mayor of Neptune Township.

Candidates for Howell Township Council; three full-term seats open:

• Fred Gasior (Republican)
• Susan Fischer (Republican)
• Ian Nadel (Republican)
• John "Bon" Bonevich (Democrat)
• J. Randy Bishop (Democrat)
• Denise King (Democrat)