Meet the Democrat: Kevin J. Murphy

"Meet the Candidates" is a feature on Berlin Patch designed to help you get to know your local candidates before you take to the polls this November. Each profile was submitted directly by the candidate. 

Take a moment to review each profile so you can be informed and prepared when you go to the polls on Nov. 5, 2013.

This week, we are looking at the Berlin Town Council candidates:

Name: Kevin J. Murphy
Age: 56
Party, Board Seeking: Democrat  for Town Council
Family information: Married with three daughters in college/grad school
Occupation, if applicable: Prosecutor
Political Experience: Elected to Board of Education Nov. 2001, VP 2003-04
Other Experience: Berlin Public Building Commission 2000 – 2006 and 2008 – present; Berlin Planning and Zoning 2006-2008; Berlin High School Boosters 2007-2012/ President 2009-2012; Connecticut Association of Prosecutors Union Representative 1996-1998 and 2008-2012 (Secretary )

Why did you run for office?
I think that it is important that people of strong character and commitment to their community be willing to serve.  If the people of Berlin will honor me with their votes I am willing to work hard to keep taxes low but adequately fund important town functions including the renovation of the high school.

If elected, what would be your primary areas of focus?
Berlin must maintain our community’s strong fiscal health while meeting increasing community needs.  I believe that the Democratic Town Council has successfully balanced these two difficult competing interests, by on one hand, providing road maintenance, trash pickup, police support, educational excellence, infrastructure maintenance and all of the daily requirements of town government and, on the other hand, getting by with reduced availability of resources in tough economic times.

What do you feel is the biggest issue facing Berlin today?
We must keep the line on spending along with funding the most important projects which are critical to our town.  The Republicans oppose the high school renovation and voted against receiving money from the state.  I will work hard to complete that project which protects  property values for Berlin residents and improves the education of the children of our town. I believe that this community project and the acquisition of open space will preserve the essential character of our town and be source of pride as well as critical community resources for years to come.

What skills do you have that you could bring to the community?
My career has been as a prosecutor/litigator.  I have also devoted much of my free time serving our community over the years. I believe that I have three main skills: fairness, hard work and common sense.  I feel that it is important to live within my means and am willing to make hard decisions. I will also be an effective advocate for the Town of Berlin.

Anything else you would like to share?
I believe that the Democrats over the past years have demonstrated fiscal responsibility and willingness to work with reasonable members of other parties to benefit the people of Berlin. Recently when we faced a decision to fully fund the high school project using State money the Republican Town Council refused to accept badly needed money. As a Berlin resident and as a taxpayer I am concerned about the integrity of the opposition ticket and with the direction they would take this town.

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