Dennis Murray (Ohio politician)
Encyclopedia
Dennis Murray is a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, serving the 80th District since 2009.
and returned to Ohio to work in his family's law firm in Sandusky
, where he specializes in contracts, antitrust, securities, and investor and banking fraud. He was elected city commissioner in 2005, and served until his election to the House.
Chairman Chris Redfern
unable to run again due to term limits, Murray received the nomination to replace him. In the general election, he defeated Republican Ed Enderle with 53.22% of the vote to take his first term.
In 2010, Republicans saw Murray as potentially vulnerable and fielded Jeff Krabill, a marketing form owner and Sandusky City School Board member, to try to knock him off. However, he managed to keep his seat with 49.06% of the electorate, less than 1000 votes more than Krabill. Murray was sworn in to a second term on January 3, 2011. Currently, he is serving on the committees of Judiciary and Ethics (as ranking member), Commerce and Labor, and Agriculture and Natural Resources. He also serves on the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact Advisory Board; and the Turnpike Legislative Review Committee.
Recognizing the one-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the Citizens United
case, two House Democrats announced legislation in January 2011 to fight excessive influence in Ohio elections by special interest groups and companies. "Consistent polling shows that Americans believe Citizens United was wrongly decided," Rep. Murray said. "We must take action to address the increasingly excessive influence of special interests in Ohio so that the public can regain confidence and trust in our elections and government."
Murray has been a vocal opponent of Governor John Kasich
's plan to privatize the Ohio Department of Development, stating the mix of public and private dollars could lead to pay-to-play politics and lack of transparency. Along with Michael J. Skindell
, Murray has filed a lawsuit against Ohio Governor John Kasich's JobsOhio privatization
measure, which Murray has called unconstitutional. One quarrel with the initiative is that under the Ohio Constitution
, the Governor is unable to hold two positions, which would occur under JobsOhio. Murray has stated he will continue to challenge the provisions.
In yet another move that sought to challenge Ohio Governor John Kasich
, Murray has challenged Kasich to withhold his campaign pledge to not allow drilling on Lake Erie
. Kasich has proposed leasing state properties for potential drilling
for oil
and natural gas
.
He also is an opponent of Matt Huffman
's plan to raise Ohio's retirement age for judges seeking election from 70 to 75, stating he had practiced before several state and federal judges who appeared to have stayed too long on the bench. Nonetheless, both measures ultimately passed the Ohio House of Representatives
. Murray has acknowledged that there is no effective system of peers that can step up to sitting judges and tell them it's time to step aside.
With a collective bargaining
bill that looks to take away specific rights for public employees, Murray has come out in opposition, and voted against the bill while it was in committee. He called the legislation masquerading as a budget issue.
Career
Murray obtained his law degree from Georgetown UniversityGeorgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
and returned to Ohio to work in his family's law firm in Sandusky
Sandusky
-Cities and towns:* Sandusky, Indiana* Sandusky, Michigan* Sandusky, Ohio* Sandusky, Wisconsin-Townships:* Sandusky Township, Crawford County, Ohio* Sandusky Township, Richland County, Ohio* Sandusky Township, Sandusky County, Ohio-People:...
, where he specializes in contracts, antitrust, securities, and investor and banking fraud. He was elected city commissioner in 2005, and served until his election to the House.
Ohio House of Representatives
With incumbent and Ohio Democratic PartyOhio Democratic Party
The Ohio Democratic Party is the Ohio affiliate to the United States Democratic Party. Former Ohio House Minority Leader Chris Redfern is the Ohio Democratic Party chairman. Redfern was elected to office in December 2005...
Chairman Chris Redfern
Chris Redfern
Chris Redfern is the current chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party. He won election to the chairmanship of the Ohio Democratic Party in December, 2005 and reelection in 2008...
unable to run again due to term limits, Murray received the nomination to replace him. In the general election, he defeated Republican Ed Enderle with 53.22% of the vote to take his first term.
In 2010, Republicans saw Murray as potentially vulnerable and fielded Jeff Krabill, a marketing form owner and Sandusky City School Board member, to try to knock him off. However, he managed to keep his seat with 49.06% of the electorate, less than 1000 votes more than Krabill. Murray was sworn in to a second term on January 3, 2011. Currently, he is serving on the committees of Judiciary and Ethics (as ranking member), Commerce and Labor, and Agriculture and Natural Resources. He also serves on the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact Advisory Board; and the Turnpike Legislative Review Committee.
Corporate welfare
Recognizing the one-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the Citizens United
Citizens United
Citizens United is a conservative non-profit organization in the United States. Its president and chairman is David Bossie.-Overview:Citizens United describes its mission as being dedicated to restoring the United States government to "citizens' control" and to "assert American values of limited...
case, two House Democrats announced legislation in January 2011 to fight excessive influence in Ohio elections by special interest groups and companies. "Consistent polling shows that Americans believe Citizens United was wrongly decided," Rep. Murray said. "We must take action to address the increasingly excessive influence of special interests in Ohio so that the public can regain confidence and trust in our elections and government."
Murray has been a vocal opponent of Governor John Kasich
John Kasich
John Richard Kasich is the 69th and current Governor of Ohio. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing from 1983 to 2001...
's plan to privatize the Ohio Department of Development, stating the mix of public and private dollars could lead to pay-to-play politics and lack of transparency. Along with Michael J. Skindell
Michael J. Skindell
Michael J. Skindell is an American politician and member of the Democratic party in Ohio. He is a practicing attorney in Cleveland, and represents the Twenty Third District of the Ohio Senate...
, Murray has filed a lawsuit against Ohio Governor John Kasich's JobsOhio privatization
Privatization
Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency or public service from the public sector to the private sector or to private non-profit organizations...
measure, which Murray has called unconstitutional. One quarrel with the initiative is that under the Ohio Constitution
Ohio Constitution
The Ohio Constitution is the basic governing document of the State of Ohio, which in 1803 became the 17th state to join the United States of America. Ohio has had two constitutions since statehood was granted....
, the Governor is unable to hold two positions, which would occur under JobsOhio. Murray has stated he will continue to challenge the provisions.
In yet another move that sought to challenge Ohio Governor John Kasich
John Kasich
John Richard Kasich is the 69th and current Governor of Ohio. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing from 1983 to 2001...
, Murray has challenged Kasich to withhold his campaign pledge to not allow drilling on Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
. Kasich has proposed leasing state properties for potential drilling
Drilling
Drilling is a cutting process that uses a drill bit to cut or enlarge a hole in solid materials. The drill bit is a multipoint, end cutting tool...
for oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
and natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
.
Social issues
He also is an opponent of Matt Huffman
Matt Huffman
Matt Huffman is a Republican member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the 4th District since 2007. Prior to his service in the House, he served as president of Lima City Council for seven years and as an attorney with the Lima law firm Huffman, Kelley, Becker & Brock...
's plan to raise Ohio's retirement age for judges seeking election from 70 to 75, stating he had practiced before several state and federal judges who appeared to have stayed too long on the bench. Nonetheless, both measures ultimately passed the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
. Murray has acknowledged that there is no effective system of peers that can step up to sitting judges and tell them it's time to step aside.
Collective bargaining
With a collective bargaining
Collective bargaining
Collective bargaining is a process of negotiations between employers and the representatives of a unit of employees aimed at reaching agreements that regulate working conditions...
bill that looks to take away specific rights for public employees, Murray has come out in opposition, and voted against the bill while it was in committee. He called the legislation masquerading as a budget issue.