The McLean County Board has approved the Chairman's choice of Scott Murphy to fill the vacant District 2 seat. Murphy is also among four people running as write in candidates in the March primary. The others are Diane Benjamin, Garth Nicholas, and Mike Sumner. Murphy says he is a business style Republican who believes county government is there to help economic growth happen.
Murphy also says it's important to have representation from the agriculture sector on the board.
Murphy is a lifelong McLean County resident. He has farmed, run a detassling company, and now buys and sells equipment used in the hybrid seed industry. His business is in Lexington and he lives in Downs.
Murphy says past boards have managed growth, but the task of the current and some future boards is different. The challenges he says, are the state budget, Mitsubishi closure, State Farm Insurance non-growth in the region, and low commodities prices.
Murphy replaces Matt Sorensen, who resigned because of a federal fraud indictment, though Sorensen is still on the March primary ballot, having missed the deadline to withdraw.
The McLean County Board also has another vacancy to fill. Democrat Paul Finch has resigned after less than a year on the panel. Finch is taking a new job with the City of Madison, Wisconsin.
