About Steve Bishop

About me; I’m 37.  I’m a proud 3rd generation small business owner.  My grandfather Charles Bishop started Bishop’s Auto Body in 1961, right here in Orland.  While starting his business he had the help of my great-grandfather Charles Bishop Sr.  Charles Sr. built an air compressor shed for the business that I still have today. I have 2 nephews ages 10 and 12. When they are at the business sweeping the floor or taking out the trash it’s more to me than just those tasks they are helping with. It’s more than just an old air compressor shed still on the property. It’s a fact that 5 active generations have participated in this small business.  I feel that my excitement over what I would call an accomplishment is all too rare. The family businesses are disappearing and with it our ability to get things done well locally, affordably and in a timely manner are disappearing as well. To survive in such a small business, in the past I’ve hurdled the 90-hour weeks as many of us have.  We currently employ 6 wonderful people that I wish could have met my grandfather and experienced his work ethic. We still work hard preserving our family business atmosphere. and have a lot of fun doing so.

I’m a Bucksport High School graduate.  I studied business and Fire Science in College. I was a member of the Bucksport Fire department for 12 years. Over those years I took several classes and trainings, such as fire ground command, operations, wild land firefighting and list goes on. I’m a graduate of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, and the 18th Law Basic Law Enforcement training program.   I spent 14 years as a Police Officer for the town Bucksport.   During that time, I was a union steward, oversaw the vehicle maintenance, attended several trainings, and worked a variety of shifts. But these days 1 training comes to mind a lot: crisis intervention.  As I look at the state of Maine right now, I plan to intervene in its crisis.

 The First board I was asked to be on was the Board of Appeals, and then I was asked to be on the Planning Board. Things got steep fast! I chaired the planning board for 1 year. In 2022 I was elected to Bucksport’s town Council, 1 year after my swearing in I was voted by the Council to be Deputy Mayor.  

I read a lot, researched a lot, and did my best to look for the answers faster. I asked a lot of questions. Just because I don’t know something today doesn’t mean I can’t figure it out by tomorrow.

Here are some things I know: Maine people, myself especially, are tired of taking a beating. These are things we hear from politicians often: Taxes, inflation…..but  climate challenges…yes I said climate. Who knew the word climate would become political? We live in Maine. It’s cold, warm, rain, snow, sun, and sometimes all in the same day! We have work force shortages, shipping challenges, and a looming EV (electric vehicle) mandate that we lack the infrastructure and a conducive CLIMATE to even consider.

There are too many obstacles for everyday life here in Maine and not enough solutions.  I’m pretty sure that’s why we are all here.  It’s why I’m here. I want solutions; sanity, common sense that is sadly not so common, and a degree of reasonableness in our government.  

This District 17 holds 4 towns.  Verona Island, Bucksport, Orland, and the Town of Penobscot.  

Politics in this region.  It doesn’t have to be controversial.  As I went around and got my signatures for this process to send to the secretary of state, I realized so many of my friends and family are independent. The independents will decide this next election. It’s important to realize that educated factual conversations will be key to our successes this year. We must offer more as Republicans than we have in the past. Let’s look for the wins we can make for the people of this district and Maine. Let’s help Maine realize that we are for them and the Maine way of life more than ever.  Let’s level up our attitudes and challenge ourselves to be educated about future proposals.  Let’s keep it classy. So, we can keep Maine in a class of its own.