Murray launches run for second term

Small business, health care, housing remain priorities for District 20 Democrat

Wednesday, May 3, 2006

Click here to enlarge this photo Murray

He has worked on legislation supporting small businesses, affordable housing and health care. Most recently, Murray was the lead sponsor on a bill that created the Maryland Commission on Men’s Health, something he said he is proud of. That commission will look at getting men to the doctor and back to health sooner, saving families and the state money lost by men being out of work.

‘‘I think I accomplished quite a bit, but there’s still a lot more work to be done,” said Murray, who has filed to run for another term in the General Assembly in 2006.

That includes looking at ways to provide health insurance for everyone, said Murray, 58, a member of the Health and Government Operations Committee.

‘‘I think it’s embarrassing to have a county as wealthy as we are ... and not be able to provide health insurance for folks,” he said.

Additionally, Murray said, many residents must make the choice between paying for housing and other expenses, like health care, which is why he is also a proponent of affordable housing. ‘‘We are making people make the hard choices.”

If re-elected, he said, he would like to take a closer look at minimum and living wages. ‘‘The question becomes do we want to go with the minimum wage or living wage?” he said. ‘‘How much money does it require for individuals to live here?”

Murray is also an advocate for small and minority-owned businesses and said he would like to make it possible for smaller businesses to compete in larger markets.

Gareth E. Murray State House of Delegates, District 20 58, Silver Spring Democrat Experience: District 20 incumbent, member of the Health and Government Operations Committee, member of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, pastor and counselor with a doctorate in counseling and personnel services Top Issues:Health care, affordable housing and providing for small and minority-owned businesses For more: Call 301-879-2538 or e-mail dctrskip@yahoo.com. A Web site is under construction.

‘‘I don’t think we do enough for small businesses in terms of leveling the playing field so they can compete,” he said.

Most importantly, Murray said, he believes in equality and making sure everyone has the same opportunities. ‘‘If you look at affordable housing and health care and issues related to equality for everyone ... if you lump them all together, they all have to do with equality.”

Murray, who was born in Baltimore, has a doctorate in counseling from Cornell University, as well as degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park. He is an associate pastor at the First Baptist Church of Silver Spring. In 2002, he won a seat in the Maryland General Assembly’s House of Representatives over incumbent Dana L. Dembrow.

District 20 includes Takoma Park and portions of Silver Spring north along the Route 29 corridor to White Oak.