Monday, February 4, 2019

Murphy

ALBANY – Former Republican State Senator Terrence Murphy who lost his re-election bid to newcomer Peter Harckham in November is back on the state payroll.

Murphy was chosen for a $40,000 a year part-time job as the Senate Republican regional director for the Hudson Valley.

Senate GOP spokesman Scott Reif explained that Murphy will be advising his Republican colleagues on issues found throughout the region. “The senator is a small businessman who will be counseling Senate Republicans on issues important to the Hudson Valley.”

The news came as a surprise to both Putnam County GOP Chairman Anthony Scannapieco and Republican Assemblyman Kevin Byrne.

Scannapieco said he was unaware of the appointment. “It will be good for the people of Putnam County because Terrence knows the district inside and out and now with the Democrats in control, we have no representation otherwise.”

Byrne was also surprised by the news. “I haven’t heard a thing about this until you just informed me,” he said Friday during a visit to his new district office in Southeast. “Different conferences have different budgets and how they use them is up to them. Terrence was good for our area. He was an excellent representative for the State Senate. It was an honor to have worked closely with him.”

Murphy did not return calls for comment.