George Murphy (Canadian politician)
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George Walter Murphy (April 22, 1963 – June 5, 2021) was a Canadian politician, who served in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 2011 to 2015.[1][2] He represented the electoral district of St. John's East for the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party.
George Murphy | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for St. John's East | |
| In office October 27, 2011 – November 5, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Ed Buckingham |
| Succeeded by | District Abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | George Walter Murphy April 22, 1963 St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Died | June 5, 2021 (aged 58) Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Political party | New Democrat (2010–2015) Liberal (2003–2010, 2018–2021) |
| Residence(s) | Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Occupation | Taxi Driver |
Murphy first ran for election as a Liberal candidate in the district of St. John's East in the 2003 election, placing second with 14.56 per cent of the vote.[3]
In November 2010 Murphy decided to leave the Liberal party and run for the NDP nomination in the Conception Bay East-Bell Island by-election.[4] Murphy placed second and received 26.14 per cent of the vote.[5]
In the 2011 provincial election Murphy ran as the NDP candidate in St. John's East. Murphy garnered 52.11 per cent of the vote to win the seat.[6][7]
On June 22, 2015, Murphy announced he would not be reoffering in the 2015 election.[8] Part of Murphy's district of St. John's East had been redistricted with fellow NDP MHA Lorraine Michael's seat; Michael successfully ran in the new district. Murphy returned to his previous career as a taxi driver following the 2015 election.[9]
Murphy has been the spokesperson of the Consumer Group for Fair Gas Prices since 2006, and regularly appeared in St. John's area media as a commentator on local gas prices.[10] Murphy distanced himself from the NDP after leaving office.[11]
In 2018, Murphy attended the NL Liberals' annual general meeting and stated that he supported the Liberals and Premier Dwight Ball.[12][13]
Murphy contested the 2019 provincial election as the Liberal candidate in St. John's East-Quidi Vidi but lost to NDP leader Alison Coffin.[14]
In 2021, Murphy unsuccessfully ran as the Liberal candidate in Harbour Main for the 2021 provincial election.[15][16]
Murphy died of a heart attack on the evening of June 5, 2021 at his Seal Cove residence.[17]
| 2021 Newfoundland and Labrador general election: Harbour Main | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Helen Conway-Ottenheimer | 3,180 | 54.47 | -5.62 | ||||
| Liberal | George Murphy | 2,430 | 41.62 | +10.98 | ||||
| New Democratic | Tony Chadwick | 228 | 3.91 | |||||
| Total valid votes | 5,838 | |||||||
| Total rejected ballots | ||||||||
| Turnout | ||||||||
| Eligible voters | ||||||||
| Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | -8.30 | ||||||
Source(s) "Officially Nominated Candidates General Election 2021" (PDF). Elections Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved 3 March 2021. "NL Election 2021 (Unofficial Results)". Retrieved 27 March 2021. | ||||||||
| 2019 Newfoundland and Labrador general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | ||||||
| New Democratic | Alison Coffin | 2,699 | ||||||
| Liberal | George Murphy | 2,072 | ||||||
| Progressive Conservative | David Porter | 1,436 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Newfoundland and Labrador[18] | ||||||||
- ^ "NDP Leader Lorraine Michael re-elected". CBC News, October 11, 2011.
- ^ George Walter Murphy obituary
- ^ "District Profile: St. John's East". CBC News. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
- ^ "Ex-Liberal switches to NDP". CBC News. November 1, 2010.
- ^ "December 2, 2010 By-Election Report: Conception Bay East - Bell Island" (PDF). Elections NL. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
- ^ "Electoral Districts: St. John's East". CBC. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
- ^ "NDP celebrates historic gains". CBC News. October 11, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- ^ "NDP's George Murphy says he will not seek re-election this fall". CBC News. June 22, 2015.
- ^ "Free ride with George: Former MHA returns to work at Jiffy Cabs". CBC News. March 2, 2016.
- ^ Delaney, Anna (April 5, 2017). "'It's a bit of a kick in the pants': Gas price researcher predicts 4-cent spike". CBC News.
- ^ Roberts, Terry (December 2, 2015). "George Murphy's words, tone suggest he's done with the NDP". CBC News.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, Ashley (June 17, 2018). "Former MHA George Murphy not ruling out run for Newfoundland Liberals". SaltWire Network.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, Ashley (June 18, 2018). "Newfoundland and Labrador Liberals set sights on 2019 election". SaltWire Network.
- ^ MacEachern, Daniel (May 16, 2019). "Exuberant NDP celebrates 'new era' as it holds St. John's seats, and wins back Labrador West". CBC News.
- ^ Mullin, Malone (March 27, 2021). "Liberals claim slim majority in Newfoundland and Labrador, as voters tap Furey to lead". CBC News.
- ^ "Here are all the MHAs elected in the Newfoundland and Labrador election". CBC News. March 27, 2021.
- ^ "George Murphy, Gas Guru, Former MHA, Dies Suddenly". VOCM, June 6, 2021.
- ^ "Official Results of the 2019 Provincial Election" (PDF). Elections Newfoundland and Labrador. May 19, 2019.
- ^ "PC David Brazil wins byelection". CBC. December 2, 2010.