Former Suffolk County Leg. David Bishop (D-14th-Lindenhurst) was sworn in as Babylon Town Councilman, replacing Councilman Wayne Horsley who now holds Bishop’s seat in the legislature. In a brief announcement on Tuesday, Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone said Bishop was chosen for his experience and because his focus as a County Legislator is closely aligned with that of his own administration.

"Dave has been an outstanding public official at the county level and has a lot of ideas," said Bellone last week. "He has supported projects for downtown revitalization, and environmental protection and is a fiscal conservative which all fit into our philosophy at the town level."

"I am happy to be able to work with Supervisor Bellone. They (Bellone and the Town Board) run a very efficient government," said Bishop. "I am particularly happy because this (appointment) allows me to be involved in communities that I have only been indirectly involved with such as Deer Park and Wyandanch and Farmingdale. They present a whole new set of issues and challenges, and for me, that is exciting."

Horsley, who is leaving the Town after serving as Councilman since 1999, is a former New York State Parks Department employee. While serving on the Town Board focused on a number of priorities, including economic development and revitalization. He ran for Bishop’s seat when Bishop had to step down as a result of term limits in place for County

Legislators in Suffolk.

"Dave was an excellent legislator, and I believe he is going to be a great town councilman," said Horsley.

Bellone said that the appointment was made based on Town Code governing openings on the board. While the Town could also have asked the Governor to call a special election to fill the spot, Bellone said he believed that since the public established the vacancy through an election that an appointment was appropriate.

Bishop will serve until the next general election in November when he could run for Horsley’s unexpired term, which ends December 31, 2006. He would be eligible to run for his first, four-year term on the town board in November, 2007, which he said he intends to do.

"It made no sense to expend taxpayers money to hold a special election especially since he will have to run two times any way," said Bellone.

There is precedent for the decision. Former Councilwoman Francine Brown was appointed in the mid 1980s. When former Supervisor Arthur Pitts left office in 1992, however, the Town Board was split with two Republicans and two Democrats. As a result a special election was called to fill the supervisor’s post, with Democrat Richard Schaffer winning that seat.

Bishop said he expects to begin working for the people of the Town of Babylon immediately and that he looks forward to the challenge.

"I intend to keep a low profile and get involved," said Bishop. "I love public service, so I am grateful for this opportunity to continue in that capacity."