Politics & Government

Walsh Looks Forward To Another Year On Council

Former mayor elected to one year unexpired term in November election.

It has been an interesting ride for Councilman Bob Walsh. Over the past decade he went from someone who had not considered running for public office to being elected Mayor of Howell Township to a run for Monmouth County Freeholder to being sworn in as councilman on Tuesday night.

After Tuesday night’s meeting where he began a one year unexpired term Walsh said he believed it would be his last time appearing on a Howell ballot, at least for now. “I do enjoy it,” he said. “I like serving the people. I like the people I meet and the people I talk to,” he said.

During his time on the council Walsh sought to win a special election to the Freeholder board and was defeated by Serena DiMaso. While there has been speculation he will run for a seat on the board this year Walsh said there were several factors in his decision not to run for a new term. “Nine years is enough for me for now,” he said.

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As with his decision not to run for mayor last year Walsh said family considerations helped him decide to not run again in the upcoming election. Now that his children are out of the house he said his family is considering its options for the future. “Howell is a great place to raise my children,” he said. “I don’t know if I’ll spend the rest of my life here, but I may too.”

Before he steps down one final time in December Walsh said he is looking forward to working hard for the residents over the course of the next year. One of his goals is starting the process of bringing sewers to the northern section of Route 9. “I thought we needed to address it for a while but in the steepest recession any of us have ever seen it just wasn’t the time. I think now is the time.”

Find out what's happening in Howellwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Calling it a multi-year process Walsh said he would like to help get the process started as the section from Freewood Acres up north to the Golden Bell Diner in Freehold currently are not on the sewer grid.

Regardless of how far that process goes before his term ends Walsh said he is proud of what he has seen done in the township and what he has been a part of. “I’m very happy with how I’ve seen Howell progress over the last 10 to 12 years. A lot of good things have happened. A lot of good things have been completed.”

Walsh said many of the people he speaks to in the township are happy with how life in Howell is going and hopes that will continue as the council works to increase efficiencies and bring in ratables to help keep taxes as low as possible.



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