Yet, Murray had to seek the comfort of Bay Area-based Ozy.com to complain about being considered as such “after everything I’ve accomplished for this city,” in an Aug. 11 story, as shared by Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat.
Murray should get the hint that it’s not in spite of everything he’s done; it’s because of it.
Murray gained prominence when he was appointed to fill the vacant 43rd District seat in the state House of Representatives in October 1995. He later challenged Sen. Pat Thibaudeau, who ultimately dropped out of the election. Someone who has these political aspirations aims to be “the man.”
In this space in early June, we said Murray was making a city of his design, not of the people he represents. We cited his creation of three new city departments, his appointments of seven new department heads, his development of a regional funding plan to save local bus service, his quick move to give city employees a higher minimum wage and more paid family leave and his proposal to “denormlize” tobacco use — all within the first year and a half of his first term. He’s also been accused of stacking advisory committees and then coming up with his own solutions when those committees didn’t come up with the recommendation he hoped for.
In the time since, Murray has seen several lengthy delays and cost spikes for the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel, for which he sponsored financing as senator, and he endorsed his Housing Affordability & Livability Advisory Committee’s controversial recommendation to change single-family zoning to allow for more density. (He withdrew the proposal after two weeks of public derision.)
And he’s still pushing for the passage in November of his $930 million Move Seattle transportation levy (revised from an initial $900 million budget).
In a politically divisive city as Seattle (left and far-left), Murray should expect criticism from his detractors, no matter their political leanings. Any longtime politician anywhere would when it comes to large projects with enormous price tags and sweeping changes that would affect taxpayers’ quality of life.
Maybe it’s because Murray was in Olympia for so long that he isn’t used to being referred to as “the man” so much. But he’s a lot closer now to his constituents, and he’s representing a much bigger population. He should expect to hear it more often if he continues to serve the public like one.