Westchester GOP Gives Murphy the Nod for District 4
The Westchester GOP gave Yorktown Councilman Dr. Terrence Murphy the nomination for Westchester’s Fourth Legislative District on Tuesday, May 31. He will be challenging Legislator Michael Kaplowitz (D-Somers) who has held seat for the past 16 years.
Murphy, who is also seeking the Conservative and Independence endorsements, called this year the continuation of the tax revolt started by County Executive Rob Astorino in 2009.
“The facts speak for themselves; for the fourth time in the last five years Westchester County is the highest taxed county in the United States of America,” said Murphy. “My opponent, who claims to be a successful financial planner, has sat at the helm as our county’s government expanded exponentially costing millions of taxpayer dollars. Despite County Executive Astorino’s efforts to reverse these poor policies my opponent has continued to standby while his Democratic colleagues recklessly continued down the road of financial disaster.”
A complication to Murphy’s nomination is that the recent redistricting of the legislative district actually changes Murphy’s residence from being in District 4 to District 1, which is represented by fellow Republican John Testa. Murphy claims that his opponent had the fourth district redrawn so it excluded Dr. Murphy’s residence which has been situated in the fourth legislative district for over twenty years.
Kaplowitz has denied such actions and explained that the redistricting is a result of shifts in the population. District 4 gained two districts in Somers that were previously part of District 2 and lost two districts to District 1.
“We the people have watched time and again entrenched incumbents abuse the public trust for self preservation and self indulgence. The actions taken by my opponent, which were the same tactics used during the last redistricting process to avoid a formidable candidate, are a blatant insult to the institution of democracy,” continued Murphy. “As a result of these heinous actions my opponent has attempted to take away one of the greatest rights Americans are bestowed which is the right to choose.”
“Dr. Murphy is exactly the kind of principled leader County Executive Astorino needs beside him if we are to reign in county spending, reduce the size of government, and make Westchester County more affordable for our families to enjoy,” commented Westchester County Republican Chairman Doug Colety. “The unanimous nomination of Dr. Murphy by the towns within the fourth legislative district only further proves the abundant support he has within his community.”
“This election is not about me but it is a recall of the sitting incumbents who have led our county down the road of fiscal ruin. Westchester County is exporting people, both young and old, because the cost of living is simply too high,” concluded Dr. Murphy. “I will bring my experiences as a successful businessman to White Plains and partner with County Executive Astorino to restore fiscal sanity to our county. The future of Westchester will be determined this fall and for the sake of my children I refuse to let the same stale individuals go unchallenged.”
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.