A La Porte County Life in the Spotlight: Richard Murphy

A La Porte County Life in the Spotlight: Richard Murphy

When Richard Murphy was in the 8th grade he ran for the position of Mayor of Chicago in his classroom. While it may have been just for fun at the time, it planted a lifelong desire to become involved in his community and take on a leadership role that would eventually lead him from his Chicago hometown to Michigan City.

"I've traveled all around the world when I was younger," says Murphy. "I was born in Chicago but traveled the world to places like Spain before settling down in Michigan City."

For Murphy, it was the ideal place to settle down after getting married. It was in a prime location close to his hometown of Chicago while also maintaining that small town atmosphere and feel the Murphy wanted to raise a family in.

"I grew up in the Northside of Chicago and would visit Michigan City for vacations," says Murphy. "It was during that time I fell in love with the lakes and the dunes. I knew that this was the place I wanted to raise a future family, I knew that this was the place that while being close to Chicago, presented a win-win scenario."

Murphy made good on his word to eventually make the move to Michigan City and after spending time developing a family and becoming more involved in the community, it was here that he decided that it would become their permanent home and a lifelong commitment to invest in the community.

"I started out as a neighborhood activist and eventually became the president of the Elston Grove Neighborhood Association," says Murphy. "While I eventually ended up as Michigan City's Councilman, the entire time was dedicated to my community. I was always trying to find solutions on how to make Michigan City a better place for people like me to live."

In 2004, Murphy became involved in the national election going on at the time, working for one of the candidates who was running. It was during this time that Murphy became jaded in national level politics and yearned for a return to local politics and the community he loved.

"It was during this time that I started finding my way back to local politics again," says Murphy. "I became invested again and discovered that it was much more meaningful to make a difference on the local level. Local level individuals understand the quality of life in a neighborhood and what is important."

For Murphy, it brings immense satisfaction to see the city become a better place through the efforts of passionate elected officials and community members. Murphy sees the bright potential that Michigan City has to offer and is eager to see what can be accomplished.

"I think having a real impact on the neighborhood with family and neighbors is the most rewarding thing that can happen to myself and the community," says Murphy. "Sometimes elected officials can look at their position and it can seem like a lonely place, but I look back and see the city turning itself around through the efforts of the mayor and the community moving forward and turning it around, I'm happy to see big progress."

For Murphy, whether he's hiking the dunes, riding bikes along Lakeshore Drive to Michigan, he enjoys the environment that Michigan City provides, a sense of pride that extends to his family.

"I grew up in Chicago, there's a sense of pride in neighborhoods there," says Murphy. "I want to be proud of the place that my kids are growing up in so they can say they are proud of living here and being from here as well."