RETIRING LEGISLATOR JOHN MURPHY ENDORSES POTENTIAL SUCCESSOR

To the Editor,

My invitation to everyone to attend a fundraiser for Vince Tyer’s campaign to succeed me on the county legislature has resulted in some positive comments about my early retirement announcement and endorsement of Vince. I announced early to give everyone an opportunity to make whatever adjustments and plans they might want to make with plenty of lead time.I choose to endorse Vince at the same time for the same reasons, including my own plans. I have been involved with local Republican Party activities since 1965 and with the County Legislature since 1971. I feel a strong responsibility to both and more so to the commonweal to attempt to identify someone who will serve as well and hopefully better than I.

Ergo, I vetted all the past aspirants to replace me, some very worthy folks from both sides of the aisle, and all the likely aspirants, some of whom have spoken to me of their intentions.

My yardsticks for choosing were high moral standards, character and sense of responsibility to the entire commonweal without fear or favor. I also looked for intelligence, successful business experience, ability to always be civil and open minded and respectful to people who might not agree with the aspirant’s principles, values, priorities and choices/decisions and their constituency’s desires. I looked for a person with inner strength to always choose to do the right thing under pressure. I looked for someone with compassion, including compassion for our taxpayers by appreciating that the Legislature’s decisions reach into every family’s paycheck, purse, pocket ability to pay their own bills and can impact their lives in a very negative way as well as a positive way. Legislators spend money they did not earn. And finally I looked for someone to embrace this adage.

It was once said that the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped – Hubert H. Humphrey.

Vince Tyer has shown me over time that he passes this test with flying colors

Sincerely,

John Murphy
County Legislator (Orangetown)