A twice-defeated Republican congressional candidate has taken the first steps to an independent bid for the governor’s office.
Rick Murphy, who owns a half-dozen radio stations in northwest Arizona and Las Vegas, lost GOP primary bids in 2004, and again last year. Murphy, who spent a half-million of his own dollars on an unsuccessful initiative to create a total vote-by-mail system, has filed paperwork for the 2014 gubernatorial race. And he’s not deterred by the lack of success Independents have had in
“If there's ever been a time where an independent can come in and win, I think this is it,” Murphy said. “And I think it's important because there's been so much partisan fighting nationally and on the state level.”
Murphy says he’s tired of it and does not think he’s alone. He insists he will not end up as a political footnote, like Bill Schulz, whose 1986 Independent bid for governor took votes from Democrat Carolyn Warner, allowing Republican Evan Mecham to get elected. Murphy says he has not decided if his campaign will be self-funded or if he’ll use the $1.3 million public dollars that could be available.