Ed Murray (Wyoming politician)

Murray is one of eight children, he was born and raised in Laramie County in a family in the Cheyenne community.[6] He graduated from Central High School in 1976 and received an undergraduate degree in business administration with dual majors in finance and real estate from the University of Arizona.[7] Murray graduated from the University of Wyoming College of Law.[8]

Murray is a real estate investor and developer. He owns Murray Investment and Development which contained 16 business entities as of 2014.[9][10] Murray is an advocate of economic development in Wyoming, in 2016 arguing against an increase in state businesses' annual filing fee.[11][12][13]

In March 2014, Secretary of State Max Maxfield announced that he would not seek reelection. Murray declared his candidacy for the Republican Party nomination in April. Murray, who had never before run for political office, won the Republican Primary by defeating five other candidates. Murray ultimately gained 37% of the vote, winning by only 1,632 votes.[14][15] Murray then defeated Libertarian Party nominee Howard "Kit" Carson and Constitution Party nominee Jennifer Young in the general election, receiving 77% of the vote in a state widely known to support Republican candidates.[16][17]

In his official capacity as Secretary of State Murray was Wyoming's Chief Business Registrar, Chief Elections Officer, Securities Commissioner, and Notaries Public Commissioner. Secretary Murray chaired the State Canvassing Board and served with four other statewide elected officials on the State Loan and Investment Board, the Board of Land Commissioners and the State Building Commission. Because Wyoming has no lieutenant governor, the secretary of state serves as acting governor if the governor is absent from the state or becomes incapable of serving.[10]

In the summer of 2016, the Secretary of State's Office announced the launch of a business service which allows for the electronic filing of official documents and retrieval of records that were previously available only upon request. As a result, the time to process a business filing decreased from five days to as low as thirty minutes.[18][19][20][21]

Murray, a Republican, opposed the formation of President Donald Trump's Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity because of federal overreach into state sovereignty, and when it was officially dissolved in 2018 he said he was pleased.[22]

Murray resigned on February 9, 2018, in the wake of multiple claims of inappropriate sexual conduct. In his statement of resignation, Murray stated: "After deep and profound contemplation, I am announcing my resignation as secretary of state, effective today. I step aside with peace and serenity in order that I may fully focus on what is most important in my life: my marriage, my family and my health."[5][23][24]

Murray and his wife Catherine ("Caren") are the parents of four adult daughters. Murray is Catholic.[25]

In December 2017 a woman accused Murray of sexually assaulting her in 1982, when she was an intern at a law firm where he was a lawyer. He denied the allegation.[26] In January 2018 another woman accused him of a forced kiss on New Year's Eve 1988; saying in a statement that Murray said to her: "Everyone should have a kiss on New Year’s Eve." Murray said in a statement that he did not remember that incident. In the same statement he said he would not run for governor or seek higher office.[3][4]

In December 2019, Murray was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.[27] He was later placed on probation.

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