TOWN OF LAKE — Ben Murray has announced he will be seeking election to Wisconsin’s 36th State Assembly seat. This is the second attempt for Murray at political office, stating that the district had changed with new legislative maps, but the problems facing northern Wisconsin hadn’t.
Murray said he’s optimistic about his chances in 2024, because the incumbent hadn’t accomplished much for his constituents in two years and people were ready for effective representation.
“Since the last election, Representative (Jeff) Mursau has continued his record of missed opportunities and not much to show for his time in office,” Murray said. “Jeff is a very friendly individual, but it’s time to send a new generation to Madison who won’t be satisfied until the legislature starts working for the people again. We need effective representation that is able to get bills across the finish line. It’s not about introducing legislation, it’s about getting legislation signed into law and Rep. Mursau has very little of that to show for his 20 years in office.”
Candidate Murray said that two years ago he focused his campaign on clean water, and rescue squad funding, because those were the issues residents most talked about and they resonated with him as something he cared deeply about himself.
“In the last two years, we didn’t see a Bipartisan PFAS remediation bill, we didn’t get rescue squads the support they need, and we didn’t see anything from the Assembly but one sided legislation designed for press releases and sound bites, while ignoring the needs of the working class,” he said. “The lopsided one-party rule we’ve had in the Assembly hasn’t led to common sense or compromise. Under this model, who loses? We do.”
When asked about the impact of lifetime politicians in the Assembly, Murray responded: “Too many of our elected officials have lost touch with what it is like to be in the working class...I know many of us are struggling right now. I experience it myself. We need more out of the legislature than partisan bickering.”
“My experience in the Navy prepares me to be a legislator better than most would think,” he continued. “I spent most of my time at Joint Commands. Working with the different services, sometimes, was very difficult. Learning how my brothers and sisters in other branches operate, and how to effectively work with them is much like what needs to be done in a diverse legislature.
Murray and his family chose to make Wisconsin their home during the COVID-19 pandemic. They took a leap of faith and moved from Georgia to Wisconsin in the Town of Lake without being able to visit, due to COVID restrictions.
“Thanks to a fellow Veteran, I was able to network with people already in Wisconsin and relocate with ease,” Murray said. “We treated it like just another move, like when I was in the Navy.”
“Since moving to Wisconsin, I have fallen in love with the area and have put down my roots. My family and I plan to stay here forever, Wisconsin has truly adopted us. And, with the love I have for my adopted home, I want to work to improve this area in ways that a career politician simply can’t or won’t.”
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