Ed Murray (Washington politician)

Murray was born in Aberdeen, Washington, to an Irish Catholic family, and is one of seven siblings in his family. He spent much of his childhood in West Seattle's Alki neighborhood, but attended high school at Timberline High School in Lacey, where he served as student body president.[http://apps.seattletimes.com/elections/2013/general/seattle-mayoral-race/candidates/ed-murray/ 2013 Seattle mayoral race: Ed Murray], Seattle Times.

Murray graduated from the University of Portland in 1980; he majored in sociology.Chris Kardish, [http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-seattle-ed-murray.html Ed Murray: One of America's Most Progressive Mayors], Governing (August 2015).

Murray began his career doing pretrial work for public defenders in Portland. He then returned to Seattle, becoming a paralegal, and quickly became active in local politics there. He was campaign manager for Cal Anderson, the first openly gay legislator in Washington state, in 1988 before becoming an assistant to City Councilmember Martha Choe.Josh Feit, [https://www.seattlemet.com/articles/2012/12/19/the-education-of-ed-murray-january-2013 The Education of Ed Murray], Seattle Met (January 2013). Murray later managed a nonprofit focused on gay rights.

In 1995, Murray, a Democrat, ran to fill the state Senate seat left vacant by the death of Anderson, his mentor. Murray was defeated by state Representative Pat Thibaudeau, but was then appointed to fill Thibaudeau's vacant state House seat in the 43rd Legislative District. He was reelected biennially until 2006, when he opted not to run for reelection to the House. The 43rd district, entirely within Seattle, includes the University District, Montlake, Eastlake, and Capitol Hill neighborhoods. The district is very progressive and reliably Democratic{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}.

In 2006, Murray announced his intention to challenge Thibaudeau for the 43rd District seat in the State Senate.{{cite news |title=Ed Murray will leave House, run for Senate |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2002903541_murray01m.html |date=April 1, 2006 |work=Seattle Times |first=Andrew |last=Garber |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060510092924/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2002903541_murray01m.html |archive-date=2006-05-10 }} In May 2006, Thibaudeau dropped out and Murray was elected to the Senate with little opposition.{{cite news|title=Thibaudeau drops out of state senate race |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2002987690_webthibaudeau11.html |date=May 11, 2006 |work=Seattle Times | first=Ralph | last=Thomas}} He took his senate seat in January 2007. In his first session in the senate (2007–08), he was appointed vice chair of the majority caucus and in the 2009–10 session, he served as caucus chair, a post that largely is in charge of budget for the Senate and other housekeeping matters. After being reelected unopposed in 2010, Murray was appointed chair of the Ways & Means Committee for 2011–12.

Murray previously served as chair of the House Transportation Committee.{{cite news|title=Reform sought in how state faces transportation issues|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/transportation/208206_transpo17.html?rand=68607.98 |date=January 17, 2005 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|first1=Jane |last1=Hadley}} He was also active in advancing LGBT rights. He led the push for an anti-discrimination law barring businesses from discriminating against gays and lesbians, a measure that finally passed in 2006 after three decades of debate.{{cite news|title=A long-awaited win for gay rights: Senate OKs state anti-bias bill|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/local/257432_gayrights28.html |date=January 28, 2006|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|first1=Chris|last1=Mcgann}} He was also the main sponsor of legislation creating domestic partnerships, approved in 2007.{{cite news|title=Washington state lawmakers pass domestic partnership bill giving rights to same-sex couples |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/04/11/america/NA-GEN-US-Domestic-Partnerships.php |date=April 11, 2007|work=International Herald Tribune}}

In 2009, Murray was the prime sponsor of a $2.4 billion Washington Senate financing bill authorizing the construction of a deep-bore tunnel underneath Seattle to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct.[http://app.leg.wa.gov/DLR/billsummary/default.aspx?Bill=5768&year=2009], SB 5768. Murray advocated for the project, which attracted well-documented concerns.{{cite news|last1=Holden|first1=Dominic|title=What Could Possibly Go Wrong|url=http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/what-could-possibly-go-wrong/Content?oid=4399657|publisher=The Stranger}} Bertha, the machine drilling the deep-bore tunnel, broke down in December 2013, leading to costly delays and significant challenges such as destabilizing soil conditions under Seattle's historic Pioneer Square and the Viaduct itself.{{cite news|last1=Lindblom|first1=Mike|title=Viaduct sinks an inch as workers dig to repair. Bertha|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2025177033_berthadifficultiesxml.html|publisher=The Seattle Times}} As of mid-2018, cost overruns on the tunnel project exceed $600 million.{{cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/highway-99-tunnel-in-seattle-will-open-to-traffic-this-fall-the-state-and-contractors-say/|title=Highway 99 tunnel in Seattle will open to traffic this fall, the state and contractors say|date=11 January 2018|website=The Seattle Times}}

File:Ed murray speaking 2016.jpg

Murray was elected mayor of Seattle in 2013.{{cite web|url=http://murray4mayor.com/ |title=Home | Ed Murray for Mayor of Seattle |publisher=Murray4mayor.com |access-date=December 3, 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://blogs.seattletimes.com/politicsnorthwest/2013/11/05/ballots-due-today-in-mcginn-vs-murray-showdown-for-mayor/|title=Murray: 'We're here tonight to declare victory' in mayor's race|publisher=Seattle Times|date=November 5, 2013|access-date=November 6, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002026/http://blogs.seattletimes.com/politicsnorthwest/2013/11/05/ballots-due-today-in-mcginn-vs-murray-showdown-for-mayor/|url-status=dead}} He ran for reelection in 2017, but ended his campaign on May 9 amid allegations of child sexual abuse. On September 12, 2017, amid more sexual abuse claims, Murray announced his resignation effective the next day.{{cite web|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattle-mayor-ed-murray-drops-bid-for-second-term/|title= Seattle Mayor Ed Murray won't seek second term |publisher= The Seattle Times |date=May 10, 2017 |access-date=September 13, 2017}}

Murray is of Irish descent.{{cite news

|title =Seattle's Best Christians: Senator Ed Murray |url=http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/seattles-best-christians/Content?oid=14030626 |newspaper=The Stranger |last=Sanders |first=Eli |location =Seattle, United States | date =26 June 2012}} He is gay, and came out in 1980. In 2013, he married Michael Shiosaki at St. Mark's in Seattle; the two had been in a relationship for 22 years.{{cite web|last1=Connelly|first1=Joel|title=Ed Murray-Michael Shiosaki: A 22-year trip to the altar|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/local/connelly/article/Ed-Murray-Michael-Shiosaki-A-22-year-trip-to-4721603.php|website=SeattlePI|date=9 August 2013 |publisher=Hearst Seattle Media|access-date=11 July 2015}} Murray did not emphasize his sexual orientation during his career, describing himself as "a Democrat who happens to be gay". During his campaign for the Senate, as in many of his previous campaigns, he won the backing of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.{{cite news |url=http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid39295.asp |title=Victory Fund endorsements yield 67 winners |work=The Advocate |date=November 9, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081027021303/http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid39295.asp |archive-date=October 27, 2008 }}

Five people have accused Murray of sexual abuse. In April 2017, a lawsuit{{Cite news|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/mayor-murrays-accuser-in-sex-abuse-lawsuit-reveals-identity//|title=Local News Seattle Mayor Ed Murray's accuser in sex-abuse lawsuit reveals identity: 'I have nothing to hide'|date=2017-04-19|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=2017-04-19|language=en-US}} claimed that he "raped and molested" a teenager in 1986, paying cash for sex to a high-school dropout addicted to crack cocaine.{{cite news|title=Suit charges sexual abuse by Seattle mayor in 1980s|date=6 April 2017|work=Seattle PI|last1=Daniel|first1=DeMay}} Two other men made similar allegations in 2007, including a foster son who said Murray sexually assaulted him in 1984 while he was a teenager. He had spoken with a child welfare investigator and detective at the time, and persuaded the investigator that Murray had sexually abused him, but no charges were filed.{{Cite news|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/lawsuit-alleges-seattle-mayor-ed-murray-sexually-abused-troubled-teen-in-1980s/|title=Lawsuit alleges Seattle Mayor Ed Murray sexually abused troubled teen in 1980s|date=2017-04-06|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=2017-04-06|language=en-US}}{{cite news|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/mayor-ed-murray-sexually-abused-foster-son-child-welfare-investigator-found-in-1984/|title=Seattle Mayor Ed Murray sexually abused foster son, child-welfare investigator found in 1984|author=Kamb, Lewis, and Brunner, Jim|date=July 16, 2017|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=July 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716231701/http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/mayor-ed-murray-sexually-abused-foster-son-child-welfare-investigator-found-in-1984/|archive-date=July 16, 2017|url-status=live}}

Through a spokesman, Murray denied the allegations, describing them as falsehoods intended to prevent his reelection.{{Cite news|url=http://www.kiro7.com/news/local/report-lawsuit-alleges-seattle-mayor-sexually-abused-drug-addicted-teen-in-80s/509968742|title=Report: Lawsuit alleges Seattle mayor Ed Murray sexually abused drug-addicted teen in 80s|last=Staff|first=KIRO 7 News|date=2017-04-06|work=KIRO|access-date=2017-04-06|language=en-US}} Later, Murray's lawyer said that Murray had undergone a medical examination that disproved a claim about his genitals, arguing the lawsuit should be dropped.{{cite news |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/mayor-ed-murrays-lawyer-medical-exam-disproves-accusers-anatomical-claim/ |author=Brunner, Jim and Lewis Kamb |title=Mayor Ed Murray's lawyer: Medical exam disproves accuser's anatomical claim |publisher=Seattle Times |date=April 11, 2017 |access-date=April 14, 2017}}

On September 12, 2017, Murray's cousin accused him of sexual abuse when the two teens shared a bedroom in the mid-1970s. Later that day, Murray denied the new allegation, and announced his resignation, effective the next day.{{cite news |date=September 12, 2017 |title=Seattle Mayor Ed Murray resigns after fifth child sex-abuse allegation |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattle-mayor-ed-murray-resigns-after-fifth-child-sex-abuse-allegation/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 12, 2017}}

After his resignation, Amnesty International asked the Police Service of Northern Ireland to open an investigation into Murray's 1974 trip to Belfast and Wales, which involved chaperoning 30 Catholic and Protestant children.{{cite news |last=Breen |first=Suzanne |date=September 14, 2017 |title=Ed Murray: Sex abuse claim US mayor's time in Northern Ireland 'should be probed' |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/ed-murray-sex-abuse-claim-us-mayors-time-in-northern-ireland-should-be-probed-36130468.html |work=Belfast Telegraph |access-date=September 14, 2017}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/senators/murray/ Senate homepage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212091522/http://www.senatedemocrats.wa.gov/senators/Murray/ |date=2013-12-12 }}
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Category:1955 births

Category:21st-century mayors of places in Washington (state)

Category:American people of Irish descent

Category:American gay politicians

Category:Living people

Category:LGBTQ Roman Catholics

Category:LGBTQ mayors of places in the United States

Category:LGBTQ state legislators in Washington (state)

Category:Democratic Party members of the Washington House of Representatives

Category:Democratic Party Washington (state) state senators

Category:Mayors of Seattle

Category:University of Portland alumni

Category:21st-century members of the Washington State Legislature

Category:People from Aberdeen, Washington

Category:Catholic politicians from Washington (state)

Category:Timberline High School (Lacey, Washington) alumni

Category:20th-century members of the Washington State Legislature