Quotes by Dick Murphy

At least I make decisions based on what I think is right, not who my friends might be.

I don't care if you're good or not. You don't always have a corner on perfection. And you need people to challenge what you're suggesting.

I don't think that politics attracts the best and the brightest of America. It doesn't attract the most sincere people.

I'm convinced that unless you have some public financing of elections, you are never going to remove the power of wealthy interests over elected officials.

I'm not going to rule out running for a second term. But, I think you have to be psychologically prepared to walk away from the job after four years. It's the only way that you cannot be influenced by those special interests.

It took a long time for me to convince my staff people to leave me unscheduled from 2:00 to 4:00 everyday. And I need to do that as mayor. I need to schedule accessibility time.

My belief is the majority of people in politics are just interested in pursuing this career in politics, and doing what's necessary to get themselves re-elected. And if that happens to coincide with the public good, great. But if it doesn't, the public good loses out.

You have the biggest impact on controlling, on affecting local lives as mayor. It's so much more important than being a state legislator.

You know, it's almost human nature. If you give me a gift, I feel indebted to you... assuming it's a substantial gift.

Your first obligation, I suppose, is to your God. Your second is to your family. And your third is to your community. And you ought to try to fulfill all of those in your life.