Tim Bishop
Encyclopedia
Timothy H. "Tim" Bishop is the U.S. Representative
for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party
.
The district includes most of Central and Eastern Suffolk County
, including most of Smithtown
, as well as the entirety of the towns of Brookhaven
, Riverhead
, Southold
, Southampton
, East Hampton
, and Shelter Island
. The district encompasses wealthy enclaves such as the Hamptons, middle class suburban towns such as Selden
, Centereach
and Lake Grove
, working class neighborhoods such as Mastic
and Riverhead and rural farming communities such as Mattituck
and Jamesport
on the North Fork
.
and graduated with a bachelor's degree from The College of the Holy Cross
and a master's degree from Long Island University
. Bishop is an initiate of Kappa Alpha Psi
fraternity. Bishop is among the 12th generation of Bishops to live in Southampton. He served as the long-time Provost
of Southampton College
. Bishop began working at Southampton College in 1973 as an admissions counselor and rose rapidly through the ranks. During his 29 years at the College, he served in administrative positions touching almost every aspect of college life, from institutional research and planning, to financial aid and enrollment services, student activities, personnel, community relations and fundraising.
Bishop received an "A" on the Drum Major Institute
's 2008 Congressional Scorecard on Middle Class Values on middle-class issues.
Bishop gave leadership to the bipartisan coalition of elected officials and community advocates that saved the 106th Air Rescue Wing located at Gabreski Airport from being shut down by the Pentagon’s base closure commission. He also successfully led the opposition to a plan that would have dumped more than twenty million cubic yards of contaminated dredge waste in the Long Island Sound. He has pushed forward the Democratic Party's efforts to increase college affordability.
against Republican
Congressman Felix J. Grucci, Jr.. During the campaign, Grucci ran radio
ads accusing Bishop of falsifying rape statistics at the college, but his claims were based on articles from a college newspaper that contained numerous inaccuracies. Grucci refused to repudiate the ads, and Bishop won the election by less than 3,000 votes. Bishop's victory was one of only two that year which had a non-incumbent Democrat beating an incumbent Republican.
62.2%-37.8%
, but was re-elected. He endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton for the Democratic Party nomination for President.
, a local businessman. Bishop was initially declared the winner, but after a recheck of the votes, Atschuler appeared to be ahead. After the absentee votes were counted (24 November) Bishop led by 235 votes. Altschuler conceded the election on December 8, 2010 with Bishop leading by 263 votes out of 194,000 cast. It was the country's last undecided Congressional race in the 2010 election.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
The district includes most of Central and Eastern Suffolk County
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
, including most of Smithtown
Smithtown, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 115,715 people, 38,487 households, and 31,482 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,159.9 people per square mile . There were 39,357 housing units at an average density of 734.6 per square mile...
, as well as the entirety of the towns of Brookhaven
Brookhaven, New York
The Town of Brookhaven is one of the ten towns into which Suffolk County, New York, United States, has been divided. Part of the New York metropolitan area, it is located in central Suffolk County and is the only town in the county that stretches from the North Shore to the South Shore of Long...
, Riverhead
Riverhead (town), New York
The town of Riverhead is in Suffolk County, New York, on the north shore of Long Island. The population was 33,506 at the 2010 census. The name signifies that the mouth of the Peconic River is in this town...
, Southold
Southold, New York
Southold is one of ten towns in Suffolk County, New York, United States. It is located in the northeastern tip of the county, on the North Fork of Long Island. The population was 20,599 at the 2000 census...
, Southampton
Southampton (town), New York
The Town of Southampton is located in southeastern Suffolk County, New York, U.S., partly on the South Fork of Long Island. As of the United States 2000 Census, the town had a total population of 54,712...
, East Hampton
East Hampton (town), New York
The Town of East Hampton is located in southeastern Suffolk County, New York, at the eastern end of the South Shore of Long Island. It is the easternmost town in the state of New York...
, and Shelter Island
Shelter Island (town), New York
Shelter Island is a town and island at the eastern end of Long Island in the U.S. state of New York. It forms the tip of Suffolk County and is separated from the rest of the county by water. The population was 2,228 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
. The district encompasses wealthy enclaves such as the Hamptons, middle class suburban towns such as Selden
Selden, New York
Selden is a hamlet in the town of Brookhaven in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 21,861 at the 2000 census.-Early Settlement:...
, Centereach
Centereach, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,285 people, 8,176 households, and 6,998 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,429.4 per square mile . There were 8,329 housing units at an average density of 1,046.8/sq mi...
and Lake Grove
Lake Grove, New York
Lake Grove is a village in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 10,250 at the 2000 census.The Village of Lake Grove is located in the Town of Brookhaven....
, working class neighborhoods such as Mastic
Mastic, New York
Mastic is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 15,436 at the 2000 census. Mastic is a community located in the southeast part of the Town of Brookhaven....
and Riverhead and rural farming communities such as Mattituck
Mattituck, New York
Mattituck is a census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 4,198 at the 2000 census.Mattituck CDP roughly corresponds to the hamlet by the same name in the town of Southold.- History :...
and Jamesport
Jamesport, New York
Jamesport is a census-designated place that roughly corresponds to the hamlet by the same name in the town of Riverhead in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The CDP's population was 1,526 at the 2000 census. Jamesport is known for its quaint downtown area including antique shops and...
on the North Fork
North Fork, Suffolk County, New York
The North Fork is a 30-mile-long peninsula in the northeast part of Suffolk County, New York, roughly parallel with an even longer peninsula known as the South Fork...
.
Early life, education and career
Bishop was born on June 1, 1950 in Southampton, New YorkSouthampton (town), New York
The Town of Southampton is located in southeastern Suffolk County, New York, U.S., partly on the South Fork of Long Island. As of the United States 2000 Census, the town had a total population of 54,712...
and graduated with a bachelor's degree from The College of the Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
and a master's degree from Long Island University
Long Island University
Long Island University is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution of higher education in the U.S. state of New York.-History:...
. Bishop is an initiate of Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin...
fraternity. Bishop is among the 12th generation of Bishops to live in Southampton. He served as the long-time Provost
Provost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
of Southampton College
Southampton College
Stony Brook Southampton is a campus location of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, located in Southampton, New York between the Shinnecock Indian Reservation and Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on the eastern end of Long Island. The campus features an innovative curriculum devoted to...
. Bishop began working at Southampton College in 1973 as an admissions counselor and rose rapidly through the ranks. During his 29 years at the College, he served in administrative positions touching almost every aspect of college life, from institutional research and planning, to financial aid and enrollment services, student activities, personnel, community relations and fundraising.
Political career
Committee assignments
- Committee on Education and the WorkforceUnited States House Committee on Education and the WorkforceThe Committee on Education and the Workforce is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. From 1947 until 1994 and again from 2007 to 2011, during Democratic control of the House, it was known as the Committee on Education and Labor.-History of the Committee:Attempts were...
- Subcommittee on Workforce ProtectionsUnited States House Education Subcommittee on Workforce ProtectionsThe House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections is a standing subcommittee within the United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce.-Jurisdiction:The Subcommittee's jurisdiction includes:...
- Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training
- Subcommittee on Workforce Protections
- Committee on Transportation and InfrastructureUnited States House Committee on Transportation and InfrastructureThe U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. John Mica currently chairs the committee.-History:...
- Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime TransportationUnited States House Transportation Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime TransportationThe Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation is a subcommittee within the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The Subcommittee has jurisdiction over maritime safety, security, law enforcement, and defense. Additionally, the Subcommittee exercises jurisdiction over...
- Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous MaterialsUnited States House Transportation Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous MaterialsThe Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials is a subcommittee within the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee...
- Subcommittee on Water Resources and the EnvironmentUnited States House Transportation Subcommittee on Water Resources and EnvironmentThe Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment is a subcommittee within the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The subcommittee has jurisdiction over water conservation, pollution control, infrastructure, and hazardous waste cleanup, the civil works programs of the U.S. Army...
(Ranking Member)
- Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
Bishop received an "A" on the Drum Major Institute
Drum Major Institute
The Drum Major Institute for Public Policy is a non-profit American progressive public policy institute founded during the Civil Rights Movement...
's 2008 Congressional Scorecard on Middle Class Values on middle-class issues.
Bishop gave leadership to the bipartisan coalition of elected officials and community advocates that saved the 106th Air Rescue Wing located at Gabreski Airport from being shut down by the Pentagon’s base closure commission. He also successfully led the opposition to a plan that would have dumped more than twenty million cubic yards of contaminated dredge waste in the Long Island Sound. He has pushed forward the Democratic Party's efforts to increase college affordability.
2002
In his first political race, Bishop ran as a DemocratRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
against Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Congressman Felix J. Grucci, Jr.. During the campaign, Grucci ran radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
ads accusing Bishop of falsifying rape statistics at the college, but his claims were based on articles from a college newspaper that contained numerous inaccuracies. Grucci refused to repudiate the ads, and Bishop won the election by less than 3,000 votes. Bishop's victory was one of only two that year which had a non-incumbent Democrat beating an incumbent Republican.
2004
Incumbent Tim Bishop beat Republican candidate Bill Manger 56.2%-43.8%2006
Incumbent Tim Bishop beat Republican candidate Italo ZanziItalo Zanzi
Italo Zanzi, , is Deputy General Secretary of CONCACAF, The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football, and serves as Executive Vice President of the organization’s commercial arm, CONCACAF Marketing & TV,based in Miami Beach, Florida...
62.2%-37.8%
2008
Bishop was challenged by the officially-endorsed Republican candidate Lee ZeldinLee Zeldin
Lee M. Zeldin is a Republican member of the New York State Senate, representing the 3rd district.Zeldin was raised in Shirley, New York, and graduated from William Floyd High School in 1998. He received a B.A...
, but was re-elected. He endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton for the Democratic Party nomination for President.
2010
Bishop was challenged by Republican Randy AltschulerRandy Altschuler
Randolph "Randy" Brody Altschuler is a businessman and politician on Long Island, New York. He was the Republican Party and Conservative Party candidate for Congress in New York's 1st Congressional District in 2010....
, a local businessman. Bishop was initially declared the winner, but after a recheck of the votes, Atschuler appeared to be ahead. After the absentee votes were counted (24 November) Bishop led by 235 votes. Altschuler conceded the election on December 8, 2010 with Bishop leading by 263 votes out of 194,000 cast. It was the country's last undecided Congressional race in the 2010 election.
Personal life
Bishop is married to Kathryn, founder and director of The Children's School Early Childhood program at Southampton College, and has two daughters, Molly and Meghan.External links
- U.S. Congressman Tim Bishop official U.S. House site
- Bishop for Congress official campaign site
- Profile at SourceWatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...