.gif)
Tom Murphy (mayor)
Encyclopedia
Thomas J. "Tom" Murphy, Jr. (born August 15, 1944) is a Democratic politician
from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. From January 1994 until January 2006 he served as mayor of Pittsburgh. Murphy is currently the Senior Resident Fellow for Urban Development at the Urban Land Institute
.
in Cleveland in 1967 and received a graduate degree from Hunter College
in urban studies in 1973. From 1970 to 1972, Murphy and his wife Mona were in the Peace Corps
in rural Paraguay
, constructing sanitation facilities and an elementary school. After the Peace Corps, Murphy returned to Pittsburgh and became a neighborhood organizer for the North Side before entering local politics.
, representing Pittsburgh's North Side 20th Legislative District. In 1989 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic primary
nomination for mayor.
He is a somewhat controversial figure in Pittsburgh's recent history. As mayor, he initiated a public-partnership strategy that leveraged approximately $4.5 billion in economic development in Pittsburgh. Against overwhelming public opposition, he secured $1 billion (along with Allegheny County Commissioners Bob Cranmer
and Mike Dawida) in funding for the development of Heinz Field
, PNC Park
, and a new convention center that was the largest certified green building in the United States. As mayor, he oversaw the transformation of more than 1,000 acres (4 km²) of blighted, abandoned industrial land into new commercial, residential, retail and public uses. He also lured, using public subsidies, both Lazarus and Lord's & Taylor department stores to the downtown section of the city. Both stores were monumental failures in Pittsburgh, each closing within a few years. In addition, he oversaw the development of more than 25 miles of new riverfront trails and urban green space. Initiatives such as these drove the city to the brink of bankruptcy, resulting in it being declared a "distressed" city by the state. To help recoup some of the city's losses during his tenure, Murphy made the controversial decision in 2003 to lay off a number of city employees, including police officers. Some of these jobs were later saved by dramatically increasing the city's parking tax, making it the largest such tax in the country.
Murphy's dealings with the Pittsburgh City Firefighters Union also had been questioned. Prior to the 2001 mayoral election, Murphy allegedly signed the firefighters to a new contract worth $10–12 million with a no-layoff clause in exchange for their vote. He would go on to narrowly defeat future mayor Bob O'Connor. In 2004, Murphy announced that he would not run for re-election. In June 2006, Murphy entered into an agreement with Federal government to avoid prosecution.
While being considered a man with big ideas, Murphy's political skills were often questioned as he struggled to work with city council or the state legislature. His impatience in working with the General Assembly likely harmed the city's image in statewide political circles. His declining popularity after the city's budget crisis in 2003 resulted in various citizens pushing for his impeachment, a move that would ultimately prove unsuccessful.
Murphy was one of Pennsylvania
's presidential
electors in 2000, casting his vote in favor of Al Gore
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. From January 1994 until January 2006 he served as mayor of Pittsburgh. Murphy is currently the Senior Resident Fellow for Urban Development at the Urban Land Institute
Urban Land Institute
The Urban Land Institute, or ULI, is a non-profit research and education organization with offices in Washington, D.C., Hong Kong, and London...
.
Early life
The son of a steel worker, Murphy graduated from John Carroll UniversityJohn Carroll University
John Carroll University is a private, co-educational Jesuit Catholic university in University Heights, Ohio, United States, a suburb of Cleveland. The university was founded in 1886 by the Society of Jesus as Saint Ignatius College.The university was founded in 1886 by the Society of Jesus, as...
in Cleveland in 1967 and received a graduate degree from Hunter College
Hunter College
Hunter College, established in 1870, is a public university and one of the constituent colleges of the City University of New York, located on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Hunter grants undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate degrees in more than one hundred fields of study, and is recognized...
in urban studies in 1973. From 1970 to 1972, Murphy and his wife Mona were in the Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
in rural Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
, constructing sanitation facilities and an elementary school. After the Peace Corps, Murphy returned to Pittsburgh and became a neighborhood organizer for the North Side before entering local politics.
Early Political Career
Prior to his November 1993 election as mayor, Murphy served as a State Representative in the Pennsylvania House of RepresentativesPennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
, representing Pittsburgh's North Side 20th Legislative District. In 1989 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
nomination for mayor.
As Mayor
Murphy was elected the mayor of Pittsburgh in 1993 and was sworn-in in January of 1994.He is a somewhat controversial figure in Pittsburgh's recent history. As mayor, he initiated a public-partnership strategy that leveraged approximately $4.5 billion in economic development in Pittsburgh. Against overwhelming public opposition, he secured $1 billion (along with Allegheny County Commissioners Bob Cranmer
Bob Cranmer
Robert "Bob" W. Cranmer is a Pennsylvania businessman and politician, best known as a former Republican County Commissioner of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, from 1996 to 2000.-Career:...
and Mike Dawida) in funding for the development of Heinz Field
Heinz Field
Heinz Field is a stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It primarily serves as the home to the Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Pittsburgh Panthers American football teams, members of the National Football League and National Collegiate Athletic Association respectively...
, PNC Park
PNC Park
PNC Park is a baseball park located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the fifth home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the city's Major League Baseball franchise. It opened during the 2001 Major League Baseball season, after the controlled implosion of the Pirates' previous home, Three Rivers Stadium...
, and a new convention center that was the largest certified green building in the United States. As mayor, he oversaw the transformation of more than 1,000 acres (4 km²) of blighted, abandoned industrial land into new commercial, residential, retail and public uses. He also lured, using public subsidies, both Lazarus and Lord's & Taylor department stores to the downtown section of the city. Both stores were monumental failures in Pittsburgh, each closing within a few years. In addition, he oversaw the development of more than 25 miles of new riverfront trails and urban green space. Initiatives such as these drove the city to the brink of bankruptcy, resulting in it being declared a "distressed" city by the state. To help recoup some of the city's losses during his tenure, Murphy made the controversial decision in 2003 to lay off a number of city employees, including police officers. Some of these jobs were later saved by dramatically increasing the city's parking tax, making it the largest such tax in the country.
While being considered a man with big ideas, Murphy's political skills were often questioned as he struggled to work with city council or the state legislature. His impatience in working with the General Assembly likely harmed the city's image in statewide political circles. His declining popularity after the city's budget crisis in 2003 resulted in various citizens pushing for his impeachment, a move that would ultimately prove unsuccessful.
Post-mayoral life
Today, Murphy and his wife live in a self-restored, 150-year-old farmhouse in Pittsburgh where they raised their two daughters Shannon and Molly and son T.J..Murphy was one of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
's presidential
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
electors in 2000, casting his vote in favor of Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
.
Electoral history
- 1993 Race for Pittsburgh MayorPittsburgh mayoral election, 1993The Mayoral election of 1993 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was held on Tuesday, November 6, 1993. The incumbent mayor, Sophie Masloff of the Democratic Party chose not to run for re-election.-Democratic primary:...
- Tom Murphy (D), 66%
- Kathy Matta (R), 14%
- 1997 Race for Pittsburgh MayorPittsburgh mayoral election, 1997The Mayoral election of 1997 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was held on Tuesday, November 6, 1997. The incumbent mayor, Tom Murphy of the Democratic Party was running for a second straight term.-Democratic Primary:...
- Tom Murphy (D), 77%
- Harry Frost (R), 21%
- 2001 Race for Pittsburgh MayorPittsburgh mayoral election, 2001The Mayoral election of 2001 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was held on Tuesday, November 6, 2001. The incumbent mayor, Tom Murphy of the Democratic Party was running for a record-tying third straight term.-Primary elections:...
- Tom Murphy (D), 74%
- James Carmine (R), 23%