Candidate Questionnaire: Jim Murphy

Name: Jim Murphy

Age: 61

Political Party: Democrat

Town where you currently reside: Joliet

Marital status: Married

Significant other: Vicki

Children: Two adult, five grandchildren

Office Sought: Will County Board District 9

Occupation (employer): J.V. Murphy and Associates Advertising and Public Relations

Education: High school graduate

Elect offices held: First-time candidate for major elected office

Website: JimMurphyForDistrict9.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/jim.murphy.144

Twitter: @jvmurfadpr

Email: jmurphy211@comcast.net

Phone (for possible constituents): 815-341-5461

1). Why are you running for the elected office you’re seeking?

I have a wealth of business and community experience that I believe will be of value to the residents and businesses in District 9 and to the entire Will County Board. I have a deep understanding of District 9’s past, a positive vision for its future and will be a strong voice for this extremely diverse district.

2). What skills, qualities, or experience do you have that separate you from your opponents?

My business background includes managing multi-million-dollar budgets as well as directing and encouraging employee staffs, ranging from a few dozen to over 350 people. For the past 23 years, I have been employed as the creative director for J.V. Murphy and Associates Advertising and Public Relations. Prior to this, I was part of the team that opened the Empress Casino in Joliet, where I served as senior director of marketing and public relations for the original, local owners.

I also spent 18 years on the air and in program management at several Joliet-area radio stations. I have been actively involved in the Joliet and Will County community for several decades. I am a past two-term board member of the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry and have also served as a board member on the Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Joliet Chapter of the March of Dimes, and the Forest Park Community Center. I have also served as a volunteer for Joliet’s MorningStar Mission for more than 20 years and have been honored to be the Master of Ceremonies for countless events benefiting our local nonprofit organizations.

Since throwing my hat into the ring, I have continuously sought input from District 9’s residents and businesses by personally walking all of the district’s 25 precincts in six townships, prior to the primary election. I am in the process of re-walking them all for the general election. I support fiscally responsible leadership; road improvements and capital projects; creating job growth in Will County; expanding Will County green spaces; and providing county government employees with technology and training so they remain efficient and effective. I am strongly endorsed or supported by local Labor, including the American Federation of Teachers Local 604, the Will-Grundy Central Trades and Labor Council, the Will-Grundy Building Trades, Operating Engineers Local 150, Joliet Firefighters Local 44 and many more.

3). What are the greatest challenges facing Will County and/or your specific district in the coming years?

Will County’s biggest issue is to find solutions that will improve our unsafe and outdated roads and infrastructure. The Joliet-area portion of Interstate 80 was completed over 50 years ago and was not designed to serve today’s high traffic counts. I-55 must be improved and widened as well. Many of our local bridges have been declared “structurally deficient” by IDOT. I will work together with all County Board Members to show a united front to Springfield and Washington, DC, in order to fast-track and secure funding of major construction projects that will dramatically improve the level of safety on our highways today and for the future.

I will also work to maintain or improve Will County’s AA+ bond rating. An excellent bond rating lowers the cost of doing government business. I do not believe in spending money we don’t have, but I remain mindful of the fact that county government is responsible for keeping our residents safe and providing them with cost-effective services.

Finally, I will work in a bipartisan manner to find solutions to the region’s dwindling water supply. We must look at all possible water sources and make long-term decisions that will secure an adequate supply for generations to come at the lowest possible cost. This is not a Republican or Democrat issue. It’s a quality of life issue for all Will County residents and businesses.

4). If elected, what will be your top three priorities?

If elected, my number one priority will always be the residents and businesses of District 9. After walking the entire district, meeting and listening to them, I’ve learned that regardless of political party, people are inherently good. They just want their elected officials to work together and get the job done. That being said, I will work to find bipartisan solutions to our unsafe and outdated infrastructure, research and secure an adequate supply of water for today and the future and always make sure we run government like a business.