Even if the Democratic Club treated him, arm’s length, like the rookie challenger he is at Wednesday night’s Candidates Forum, Stephen Murray came away with positive feelings.
He received 5 of 79 votes in the first round of balloting for endorsements for the April 10 City Council election and 3 of 65 in the second.
The businessman said he went into the program “cheery and upbeat,” and in that he believes he succeeded. “I wanted to be present for people.
“I felt both comfortable and confident.
“My objective was not to turn the room toward me because I am not that kind of speaker. I do mostly one-on-one. That is my strength.
“Making myself known to them was mostly what I wanted to do.”
After meeting and mixing with four of his rivals for the four Council chairs, Mr. Murray said he walked away from the Senior Center feeling Good about his showing. “I heard a lot of positive comments afterward,” he said.
“I do regret the (Scott) Malsin comment, but that is my only regret.”
(Striking with suddenness, Mr. Murray stunned the crowded room near the end of the two-hour program when he said he would not accept an endorsement from any organization that would endorse Mr. Malsin.)
This was the first evening the candidates had collected in the same setting.
Regarding the other candidates, Mr. Murray said he “really enjoyed listening to Jim Clarke. He said many things I wanted to say as well.”
Mr. Murray may be contacted at murrayforculvercity.com
