In 1927,Murray was appointed as city engineer by mayor W. Harry Monks.[1] In 1931,city manager J. Walter Ackerman chose Murray to serve as the city's first commissioner of public works.[2] In 1933 he succeeded Ackerman as city manager.[3]
Mayor
In 1934,the city switched forms of government and Murray ran for mayor.[4] He defeated former mayor Edmond P. Talbot. He was reelected over Tablot again in 1936 by 317 votes.[5] In 1937,after an employee strike threatened the Fall River Line,Murray worked with Mayors Henry S. Wheeler of Newport,Rhode Island and Leo Carney of New Bedford,Massachusetts to prevent New England Steamship from shutting down the line.[6] However,the company chose to liquidate rather than negotiate with the union and the line closed.[7] Murray was elected to his third term in 1938 by defeating former police commissioner Dr. Owen L. Eagan by 1,922 votes.[8] In 1940 he defeated Eagan by 4,601 in a three-way contest that also involved Talbot as a sticker candidate.[9] In 1941,the city regained control over its finances from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.[10] In 1942,Murray again defeated Talbot,this time for a 3-year term.[11] In February 1943,a complaint was filed against Murray under the Corrupt Practices Act regarding election expenses. The complaint sought to declare Murray's election void.[12] The removal proceedings were dismissed by a three-judge panel of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court with the stipulation that he amend his campaign expense report within 10 days to include a $275 contribution made for radio time.[13] In 1943,Murray dealt with a milk shortage that affected Fall River and surrounding communities.[14]
References
↑ "Democrats Lose Fall River Jobs". The Boston Daily Globe. January 4, 1927.
↑ "Murphy Named Secretary to Mayor of Fall River". The Boston Daily Globe. May 5, 1931.
↑ "Fall River Mayor Warns Manager of Economy Need". The Boston Daily Globe. January 17, 1933.
↑ "First Plan A City Election Slated Today at Fall River". The Boston Daily Globe. December 18, 1934.
↑ "Murray's Margin 317 in Fall River Contest". The Boston Daily Globe. December 16, 1936.
↑ "Ship Line Fight Unites 3 Cities". The Boston Daily Globe. July 25, 1937.
↑ Quinn, William (1979). Shipwrecks Around New England. Orleans, MA: The Lower Cape Publishing Company. p.126. ISBN0-936972-05-X.
↑ "Murray Defeats Egan [sic] by 1922 in Fall River". The Boston Daily Globe. December 21, 1938.
↑ "Murray's Margin 4601 at Fall River Polls". The Boston Daily Globe. December 18, 1940.
↑ "Mayor Murray Notes Progress of Fall River". The Boston Daily Globe. January 7, 1941.
↑ "Murray Elected Fall River Mayor for 3-Year Term". The Boston Daily Globe. December 16, 1942.
↑ "Petition to Void Fall River Mayor's Election Denied". The Boston Daily Globe. February 6, 1943.
↑ "Ouster Proceedings Against Fall River Mayor Dismissed". The Boston Daily Globe. April 9, 1943.
↑ "U. S. Aid Sought in Fall River Milk Shortage". The Boston Daily Globe. July 7, 1943.
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