'Incredible, rewarding job': Milwaukee Alder Michael Murphy announces retirement after 30+ years

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- After serving Milwaukee's west side for more than 30 years, Alderman Michael Murphy announced he's not seeking reelection.

First elected to the Milwaukee Common Council in 1989 at the age of 27, Murphy is currently the longest tenured elected official severing the city.

Now 61 years old, Murphy said the decision to retire wasn't easy but says he felt his time has come to an end. He will leave office in April 2024 when his term expires.

"It was one with a lot of contemplation, a lot of discussion with my family and I just felt this was the right time," Murphy said.

Murphy added the timing of the decision was also to give someone else an opportunity to run for his seat weeks before nomination papers due on Dec. 1.

The Milwaukee native and resident of the Story Hill neighborhood said he wants to be remembered not only for his work, but his character.

"I like to hope people will recognize I got into severing the community because I wanted to do good and wanted to make a difference," he said. "That at the end of the day, I always put my constituents first and put the city first, not my own personal ambitions…It can be an incredible, rewarding job."

Murphy said some of his biggest accomplishments include expanding housing opportunities for the homeless and low-income families through the Milwaukee Housing Trust Fund, as well as raising more than $4 million to renovate playgrounds.

He also served as chair of city and county Carjacking and Reckless Driving Task Force, and spearheaded the creation of the Heroin, Opioid, and Cocaine Task Force in 2017 to address drug overdoses and deaths.

As former president of the common council from 2014 to 2016 and long-time chair of the Finance and Personnel Committee, Murphy was also known for being a fiscal watchdog.

It's part of his career that might come in handy as he's mulling a run for Milwaukee's chief financial officer.

"I've been asked to run for another seat. I haven't made a decision on that for City Comptroller but I'm going to take some time to think about that."

The comptroller is responsible for auditing the city's finances and managing payroll and other accounting practices. The citywide position is up for grabs after Aycha Sawa announced earlier this month she won't seek a second four-year term.

After Murphy departs in 2024, he will have served for 35 years, making him the third longest severing alderman in city history.