Ed Murray (Wyoming politician)

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

Ed Murray
21st Secretary of State of Wyoming
In office
January 5, 2015 – February 9, 2018
GovernorMatt Mead
Preceded byMax Maxfield
Succeeded byEd Buchanan
Personal details
Born (1958-03-28) March 28, 1958
Laramie County, Wyoming,
U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Caren Murray
Children4
EducationUniversity of Arizona (BA)
University of Wyoming (JD)

Murray was considering running for governor of Wyoming in the 2018 Election.[1][2] On January 23, 2018, Ed Murray announced he would not seek reelection or run for higher office in 2018.[3][4][5]

Early life and education

Murray is one of eight children, he 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][10] Murray is an advocate of economic development in Wyoming, in 2016 arguing against an increase in state businesses' annual filing fee.[11][12][13]

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 before 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.[14][15] Murray then defeated 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.[16][17]

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.[10]

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 when it was officially dissolved in 2018 he said he was pleased.[22]

Sexual Assaults and Resignation

In December 2017 a woman accused Murray of sexually assaulting her in 1982, when she was an intern at a law firm where he was a lawyer. He denied the allegation.[23] 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.[3][4]

Murray resigned on February 9, 2018, in the wake of multiple claims of inappropriate sexual conduct. 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][24][25]

In December 2019, Murray was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.[26] He was later placed on probation.

Personal life

Murray and his wife Catherine ("Caren") are the parents of four adult daughters. Murray is Catholic.[27]


Electoral history
Wyoming Secretary of State Republican Primary Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ed Murray 32,944 36.86
Republican Ed Buchanan 31,312 34.93
Republican Pete Illoway 16,596 18.51
Republican Clark Stith 8,511 9.49
Republican Write-ins 274 0.31
Wyoming Secretary of State Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ed Murray 119,772 76.58
Constitution Jennifer Young 18,918 12.10
Libertarian Kit Carson 16,858 10.78
Write-ins Write-ins 859 0.55
gollark: Did you not read the assembly?
gollark: The school establishment.
gollark: It is being held in reserve as a contingency in case they are irritating wrt. phones.
gollark: They just... don't? And you can't swap the storage out, mostly.
gollark: Flash chips are *tiny*.

References
  1. Hancock, Laura (June 29, 2016). "Lummis not ruling out run for governor". Casper Star-Tribune.
  2. Funk, Joel (September 20, 2017). "GOP candidate for Wyoming governor remains unclear". Wyoming Tribune Eagle. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  3. Rosenfeld, Arno (January 24, 2018). "Second woman accuses Murray of sexual misconduct; Secretary of state won't seek reelection or higher office". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  4. Wilson, Reid (January 24, 2018). "Wyoming official won't run for governor after harassment allegations". The Hill. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  5. Rosenfeld, Arno (February 9, 2018). "Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Murray resigns; move caps dramatic fall for Cheyenne politician". Casper Star-Tribune.
  6. "Barbara Murray Obituary". Schrader, Aragon &Jacoby Funeral Home. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  7. Stottlemyre, Matthew (June 30, 2014). "Business man running for top state business office". Gillette News-Record. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  8. "Bellinghiere: Murray an excellent choice". Casper Star-Tribune Online. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  9. Hancock, Laura. "Ed Murray thinks business experience will help in Wyoming secretary of state bid". Casper Star-Tribune Online. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  10. "About the Secretary". Wyoming Secretary of State's Office. Wyoming Secretary of State's Office. Retrieved March 27, 2017.
  11. Orr, Becky (October 1, 2017). "What's right and wrong with downtown? Day 1, Downtown Cheyenne: Ready for renewal?". Wyoming Tribune Eagle. Cheyenne. Retrieved March 27, 2017.(subscription required)
  12. Orr, Becky (April 20, 2011). "Downtown getting giant cherub mural". Wyoming Tribune Eagle.(subscription required)
  13. Graham, Andrew (February 9, 2017). "Murray calls fees bill reckless; rouses House leaders' ire". WyoFile. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  14. Graff, Trevor (August 19, 2014). "Ed Murray wins close Secretary of State race". Wyoming Tribune Eagle.
  15. Nickerson, Gregory (June 3, 2014). "Wyoming secretary of state candidates wary of "big money" race". WyoFile.
  16. "Ed Murray Elected Secretary of State". KGWN. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  17. "Murray will be Wyoming secretary of state". Casper Star-Tribune Online. The Associated Press. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  18. "New online biz tools will cut red tape". Wyoming Business Report. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  19. Murphy, Matt (July 12, 2016). "Secretary of State now offers business filings online". Wyoming Tribune Eagle.(subscription required)
  20. "SOS Announces New Online Services for Businesses". Sheridan Media. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  21. "Public can search more business, nonprofit documents on state site". Casper Star Tribune. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  22. Morton, Tom (January 4, 2018). "Wyoming Secretary of State Applauds the End of Federal Election Commission". k2radio.com. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  23. Rosenfeld, Arno (December 14, 2017). "Woman says Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Murray sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager". Casper Star-Tribune.
  24. Sec. of State Murray resigns amid sex allegations, Jackson Hole News & Guide, John Spina Feb 9, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  25. "Ed Murray (Wyoming)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  26. https://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/crime-and-courts/former-wyoming-secretary-of-state-murray-arrested-friday-for-dui/article_0cfec7b5-78cd-50bb-918a-1ce780b82797.html
  27. Hancock, Laura (June 27, 2015). "Pope's environment letter divides Wyoming Catholics". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
Political offices
Preceded by
Max Maxfield		 Secretary of State of Wyoming
2015–2018		 Succeeded by
Karen Wheeler
Acting
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