By DON STINE
Neptune Township Committeeman Randy Bishop announced this week he will be leaving the governing body to take a full-time job in county government.
At the Jan, 11meeting Bishop said he will be taking a job, probably next month, as the Deputy Commissioner for Administration of Elections for Monmouth County.
“I believe the details will be completed in February, which is when I would step down,” he said.
Bishop has been on the committee for 12 years incuding serving as mayor twice.
Mayor Kevin McMillan said that Bishop will definitely be missed.
“We will miss Randy and his leadership on issues, especially those pertaining to Ocean Grove. One his legacies will be the dredging of the Shark River and it remains a pleasure to know that he remains only a phone call away. I wish him continued success in his new position,” he said.
Bishop, 57, said his new job still helps him fulfill his goals for getting involved in government to begin with.
“At this point in my life, this is an excellent opportunity to not only do something for myself and Dan, but it also opens up another spot for someone else to get involved in elected politics.
“With this job, I get to stay involved in the process- but not in politics. I get to help people understand voter registration and things that really attracted me to public service in the first place. I think this is a good opportunity and I’ll never be leave serving public in some form,” he said.
And Bishop said he will miss being on the Township Committee.
“I will miss the constant interaction with people, listening to not only their concerns but also their triumphs. And, I hope to especially work with seniors and young people. Those are the things I really enjoy,” he said.
Bishop said he will still stay involved in the community and still own his bed and breakfast in Ocean Grove.
The Township Committee already has to find a replacement for Eric Houghtaling, who stepped down from the committee on Monday to assume his post as a state Assemblyman the next day.
The governing body will now be faced with finding a second replacement for Bishop.
Township Attorney Gene Anthony said that the Monmouth County Democratic Party now has to present three viable candidates to fill both Houghtaling’s and Bishop’s seat within 15 days of them stepping down. The governing body then has to choose one of the candidates within 30 days.
