Ed Murray (Wyoming politician) explained

Ed Murray
Office:21st Secretary of State of Wyoming
Governor:Matt Mead
Term Start:January 5, 2015
Term End:February 9, 2018
Predecessor:Max Maxfield
Successor:Ed Buchanan
Birth Date:28 March 1958
Birth Place:Laramie County, Wyoming, U.S.
Party:Republican
Spouse:Caren Murray
Children:4
Education:University of Arizona (BA)
University of Wyoming (JD)

Ed Murray (born March 28, 1958) is a former Secretary of State of Wyoming. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Murray was widely seen as the probable front-runner for governor of Wyoming in the 2018 Election,[1] [2] [3] [4] but on January 23, 2018, Murray announced he would not seek reelection or run for higher office in 2018, stating he was putting family above politics.[5]

Early life and education

One of eight children, Murray was born and raised in Laramie County in a family in the Cheyenne community.[6] He graduated from Central High School in 1976 and received an undergraduate degree in business administration with dual majors in finance and real estate from the University of Arizona.[7] Murray graduated from the University of Wyoming College of Law.[8]

Career

Murray is a real estate investor and developer. He owns Murray Investment and Development which contained 16 business entities as of 2014.[9] Murray is an advocate of economic development in Wyoming, in 2016 arguing against an increase in state businesses' annual filing fee.[10] [11] [12]

2014 Wyoming Secretary of State election

In March 2014, Secretary of State Max Maxfield announced that he would not seek reelection. Murray declared his candidacy for the Republican Party nomination in April. Murray, who had never run for political office, won the Republican Primary by defeating five other candidates. Murray ultimately gained 37% of the vote, winning by only 1,632 votes over state Representative Edward Buchanan, the former Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives.[13] [14] Murray went on to defeat Libertarian Party nominee Howard "Kit" Carson and Constitution Party nominee Jennifer Young in the general election, receiving 77% of the vote in a state widely known to support Republican candidates.[15] [16]

Wyoming Secretary of State

In his official capacity as Secretary of State Murray was Wyoming's Chief Business Registrar, Chief Elections Officer, Securities Commissioner, and Notaries Public Commissioner. Secretary Murray chaired the State Canvassing Board and served with four other statewide elected officials on the State Loan and Investment Board, the Board of Land Commissioners and the State Building Commission. Because Wyoming has no lieutenant governor, the secretary of state serves as acting governor if the governor is absent from the state or becomes incapable of serving.[17]

In the summer of 2016, the Secretary of State's Office announced the launch of a business service which allows for the electronic filing of official documents and retrieval of records that were previously available only upon request. As a result, the time to process a business filing decreased from five days to as low as thirty minutes.[18] [19] [20] [21]

Murray, a Republican, opposed the formation of President Donald Trump's Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity because of federal overreach into state sovereignty and was pleased when it was officially dissolved in 2018.[22]

Murray categorically refuted any claims of rigging or interference in the Wyoming elections that he oversaw.[23] [24]

  1. MeToo Allegations

Murray was one of 25 political figures whose bids for higher office ended as a result of the
  1. MeToo movement
in 2018.[25] Beginning in December 2017, a woman accused Murray of sexually assaulting her in 1982, when she was an intern at the same law firm where Murray was an attorney. The woman claimed to have been inspired to tell her story as part of the #Metoo movement.[26] Murray denied the allegation.[27] Murray was one of 11 political figures accused of sexual misconduct as part of the #MeToo movement in December 2017.[28] In January 2018 another woman accused him of a forced kiss on New Year's Eve 1988; saying in a statement that Murray said to her: "Everyone should have a kiss on New Year’s Eve." Murray said in a statement that he did not remember that incident. In the same statement, he said he would not run for governor or seek higher office.[29] [30]

Murray resigned on February 9, 2018. In his statement of resignation, Murray stated: "After deep and profound contemplation, I am announcing my resignation as secretary of state, effective today. I step aside with peace and serenity in order that I may fully focus on what is most important in my life: my marriage, my family and my health."[5] [31] [32]

In December 2019, Murray was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.[33] He was later placed on probation.

Personal life

Murray and his wife Catherine ("Caren") are the parents of four adult daughters. Murray is Catholic.[34]

Electoral history

Wyoming Secretary of State Republican Primary Election, 2014
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanEd Murray32,94436.86
RepublicanEd Buchanan31,31234.93
RepublicanPete Illoway16,59618.51
RepublicanClark Stith8,5119.49
RepublicanWrite-ins2740.31
Wyoming Secretary of State Election, 2014
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanEd Murray119,77276.58
ConstitutionJennifer Young18,91812.10
LibertarianKit Carson16,85810.78
Write-insWrite-ins8590.55

Notes and References

  1. News: Former Intern Accuses Wyoming's Secretary of State of Sexual Assault.. Raymond, Adam k.. December 15, 2017. New York.
  2. News: Amid Sexual Allegations, Wyoming Secretary of State Ends 2018 Hopes.. Cournoyer, Caroline. January 24, 2018. Governing.
  3. News: Lummis not ruling out run for governor.. Hancock, Laura. June 29, 2016. Casper Star-Tribune.
  4. News: GOP candidate for Wyoming governor remains unclear. Funk, Joel. September 20, 2017. Wyoming Tribune Eagle. December 27, 2017.
  5. News: Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Murray resigns; move caps dramatic fall for Cheyenne politician.. Rosenfeld, Arno. February 9, 2018. Casper Star-Tribune.
  6. Web site: Barbara Murray Obituary. Schrader, Aragon &Jacoby Funeral Home. December 28, 2017.
  7. News: Business man running for top state business office. Stottlemyre, Matthew. June 30, 2014. Gillette News-Record. December 28, 2017.
  8. Web site: Bellinghiere: Murray an excellent choice. Casper Star-Tribune Online. November 6, 2014.
  9. Web site: Ed Murray thinks business experience will help in Wyoming secretary of state bid. Hancock, Laura. Casper Star-Tribune Online. November 6, 2014.
  10. News: Orr . Becky . October 1, 2017 . What's right and wrong with downtown? Day 1, Downtown Cheyenne: Ready for renewal?. Wyoming Tribune Eagle . Cheyenne . March 27, 2017.
  11. News: Downtown getting giant cherub mural. Orr, Becky. April 20, 2011. Wyoming Tribune Eagle.
  12. News: Murray calls fees bill reckless; rouses House leaders' ire. Graham, Andrew. February 9, 2017. WyoFile. December 28, 2017.
  13. News: Ed Murray wins close Secretary of State race.. Graff, Trevor. August 19, 2014. Wyoming Tribune Eagle.
  14. News: Wyoming secretary of state candidates wary of "big money" race.. Nickerson, Gregory. June 3, 2014. WyoFile.
  15. Web site: Ed Murray Elected Secretary of State. KGWN. November 6, 2014.
  16. Web site: Murray will be Wyoming secretary of state. The Associated Press. Casper Star-Tribune Online. November 6, 2014.
  17. Web site: About the Secretary. Wyoming Secretary of State's Office. March 27, 2017.
  18. Web site: New online biz tools will cut red tape. Wyoming Business Report. July 11, 2016.
  19. News: Secretary of State now offers business filings online. Murphy, Matt. July 12, 2016. Wyoming Tribune Eagle.
  20. Web site: SOS Announces New Online Services for Businesses. Sheridan Media. July 11, 2016.
  21. Web site: Public can search more business, nonprofit documents on state site. Casper Star Tribune. July 30, 2016.
  22. News: Wyoming Secretary of State Applauds the End of Federal Election Commission. Morton, Tom. January 4, 2018. k2radio.com. January 18, 2018.
  23. News: In Their Own Words: Officials Refuting False Claims of Voter Fraud.. April 13, 2017. Brennan Center for Justice.
  24. News: While Trump maintains voter fraud, Murray says no evidence of significant illegal voting in Wyo.. Hancock, Laura=May 14, 2017. Casper Star Tribune.
  25. News: The 25 Candidates for 2018 Sunk by #MeToo Allegations.. Godfrey, Elaine . Felton, Lena . Hosking, Taylor . July 26, 2018. The Atlantic.
  26. News: Wyoming Secretary Of State Ed Murray Accused Of Sexual Assault.. Mullen, Maggie. December 17, 2017. Wyoming Public Radio.
  27. News: Woman says Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Murray sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager. Rosenfeld, Arno. December 14, 2017. Casper Star-Tribune.
  28. News: 262 celebrities, politicians, CEOs, and others who have been accused of sexual misconduct since April 2017.. North, Anna. January 24, 2018. Vox Media.
  29. News: Second woman accuses Murray of sexual misconduct; Secretary of state won't seek reelection or higher office. Rosenfeld, Arno. January 24, 2018. Casper Star-Tribune. January 25, 2018.
  30. News: Wyoming official won't run for governor after harassment allegations. Wilson, Reid. January 24, 2018. The Hill. January 25, 2018.
  31. http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/jackson_hole_daily/local/sec-of-state-murray-resigns-amid-sex-allegations/article_833fab9f-f32a-5526-9df4-45c08f5d6fc6.html Sec. of State Murray resigns amid sex allegations
  32. News: Ed Murray (Wyoming). Ballotpedia. October 8, 2019.
  33. Web site: Former Wyoming Secretary of State Murray arrested Friday for DUI.
  34. News: Pope's environment letter divides Wyoming Catholics. Hancock, Laura. June 27, 2015. Casper Star-Tribune. December 28, 2017.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Ed Murray (Wyoming politician)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.