Dick Murphy
Encyclopedia
Richard M. Murphy (born December 16, 1942) is a former U.S.
politician. He served as the 33rd Mayor of San Diego, California
from 2000 to 2005
. He was the first Class President of Proviso West High School
in its first graduating class in 1961.
He graduated from the University of Illinois
with a degree in Economics
. He received his Master of Business Administration
from Harvard University
and his law degree from Stanford University
.
Murphy served as an officer in the U.S. Army
, in The Pentagon
as a military aide to the Nixon
administration. In the early 1970s he moved to San Diego, where he was Marketing Director for Bank of America
, and as an attorney at the law firm of Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps
. In 1980, he was elected to the San Diego City Council, and served from 1981 through 1985. In 1985, he was appointed municipal court judge by Governor George Deukmejian
. In 1989, the governor elevated him to superior court judge.
His re-election campaign saw controversy with a last minute write-in candidate, Donna Frye
, a member of the San Diego City Council
, who likely received more votes than either Murphy or Roberts. A number of voters did not follow the proper procedure for supporting a write-in candidate, either misspelling the name of Donna Frye (usually as "Donna Fry") or writing her name in the blank but neglecting to fill in the corresponding bubble to indicate their preference.http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Citizens_Request_Recount_IN_SAN_DIEGO_MAYO_0818.html. After a legal imbroglio involving three (unsuccessful) lawsuits, these votes were ultimately not counted, resulting in Murphy winning the official tally by approximately 2,000 votes. At the time of the controversy, the League of Women Voters estimated that the number of votes disenfranchised ranged from 4,000 to 5,000.
During Murphy's last term, the city faced serious fiscal problems from years of financial mismanagement by past city governments,, problems including an underfunded pension program and a series of credit-score downgrades. Murphy's last term also saw the opening of PETCO Park
, The April 25, 2005 issue of Time Magazine listed him as one of the three worst big-city mayors in the United States.
The other two worst mayors are Kwame Kilpatrick
of Detroit
and John F. Street
of Philadelphia
(not in order).
Shortly after the article appeared, Murphy, on April 25, 2005, announced his plans to resign as Mayor and resigned July 15, 2005.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician. He served as the 33rd Mayor of San Diego, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
from 2000 to 2005
Early life
Murphy was born 1942 in Oak Park, IllinoisOak Park, Illinois
Oak Park, Illinois is a suburb bordering the west side of the city of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is the twenty-fifth largest municipality in Illinois. Oak Park has easy access to downtown Chicago due to public transportation such as the Chicago 'L' Blue and Green lines,...
. He was the first Class President of Proviso West High School
Proviso West High School
Proviso West High School is a public high school located in Hillside, Illinois, United States. Proviso West is a part of Proviso Township High Schools District 209, and was opened in 1958. Its sister school is Proviso East High School....
in its first graduating class in 1961.
He graduated from the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
with a degree in Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
. He received his Master of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and his law degree from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
.
Murphy served as an officer in the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, in The Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
as a military aide to the Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
administration. In the early 1970s he moved to San Diego, where he was Marketing Director for Bank of America
Bank of America
Bank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...
, and as an attorney at the law firm of Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps
Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps
Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP , founded in 1873, is a prominent law firm headquartered in San Diego, California. With over 200 attorneys, it is one of the largest and highest-grossing law firms in the U.S. Avery Index ranks Luce Forward as among the country’s most prestigious law firms. The...
. In 1980, he was elected to the San Diego City Council, and served from 1981 through 1985. In 1985, he was appointed municipal court judge by Governor George Deukmejian
George Deukmejian
Courken George Deukmejian, Jr. born June 6, 1928) is an Armenian American politician from California who as a Republican served as the 35th Governor of California and as California Attorney General .-Early life:...
. In 1989, the governor elevated him to superior court judge.
Mayor
Murphy's mayoral term began in December 2000, and he was reelected in November 2004. His election was a long shot against Ron Roberts, who had the support of the business community. He campaigned on fixing the stalled construction of the downtown ballpark and to work to build a new airport. Murphy had previously served one term on the San Diego City Council representing the Seventh District. While elections for municipal offices in California are non-partisan, he is a registered Republican.His re-election campaign saw controversy with a last minute write-in candidate, Donna Frye
Donna Frye
Donna Frye was a member of the San Diego City Council, representing District 6. Her term ended December 6 2010.Frye was born in 1952 in Pennsylvania, the second of three children...
, a member of the San Diego City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
, who likely received more votes than either Murphy or Roberts. A number of voters did not follow the proper procedure for supporting a write-in candidate, either misspelling the name of Donna Frye (usually as "Donna Fry") or writing her name in the blank but neglecting to fill in the corresponding bubble to indicate their preference.http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Citizens_Request_Recount_IN_SAN_DIEGO_MAYO_0818.html. After a legal imbroglio involving three (unsuccessful) lawsuits, these votes were ultimately not counted, resulting in Murphy winning the official tally by approximately 2,000 votes. At the time of the controversy, the League of Women Voters estimated that the number of votes disenfranchised ranged from 4,000 to 5,000.
During Murphy's last term, the city faced serious fiscal problems from years of financial mismanagement by past city governments,, problems including an underfunded pension program and a series of credit-score downgrades. Murphy's last term also saw the opening of PETCO Park
PETCO Park
Petco Park is an open-air ballpark in downtown San Diego, California, USA. It opened in 2004, replacing Qualcomm Stadium as the home park of Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres. Before then, the Padres shared Qualcomm Stadium with the NFL's San Diego Chargers...
, The April 25, 2005 issue of Time Magazine listed him as one of the three worst big-city mayors in the United States.
The other two worst mayors are Kwame Kilpatrick
Kwame Kilpatrick
Kwame Malik Kilpatrick is a former mayor of Detroit, Michigan. Kilpatrick's mayorship was plagued by numerous scandals and rampant accusations of corruption, with the mayor eventually resigning after being charged with ten felony counts, including perjury and obstruction of justice...
of Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
and John F. Street
John F. Street
John Franklin Street was the 97th Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. He was first elected to a term beginning on January 3, 2000, and was re-elected to a second term beginning in 2004...
of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
(not in order).
Shortly after the article appeared, Murphy, on April 25, 2005, announced his plans to resign as Mayor and resigned July 15, 2005.
Quote
- I want to be mayor, but I don’t need to be mayor. I’m not a career politician (during 2000 campaign)