Projo Politics Blog

By Katherine Gregg

PROVIDENCE,R.I. -- House Speaker William J. Murphy has confirmed plans to leave the House - and the Speaker's rostrum - after he completes his term next year.

In an interview with The Journal Wednesday, the West Warwick Democrat said he conveyed his decision at a chairmans' dinner at the Capriccio restaurant last Wednesday, along with his endorsement of House Majority Leader Gordon Fox to succeed him.

"I will not be seeking reelection in 2011,'' he said.

Murphy said the seeds of his decision were sown nearly seven years ago when he first took the helm.

While he does not favor term limits for rank and file legislators, Murphy recalled saying then "that eight years was a good term for a speaker. In fact, I introduced legislation during my first term that would limit the length of time that a [House] speaker and Senate president could serve as being eight years,'' in part, because it coincided with the term limits for the governor and other top state officers.

With Fox and others openly campaigning to succeed him, Murphy's announcement is not a surprise. But his comments mark his first public acknowledgement that he will not be returning after 2010.

Asked if he was concerned about lame duck status, Murphy said: "I hate that term,'' but "I am not worried about it at all. I have had members over the summer ask me to run again, but I said to myself eight years would be a great term. Eight years went by in the blink of an eye..and I will stick to what I said. Eight years.''

Murphy also sought to dispel the many rumors that have spun around his anticipated departure. "I went to Rome on vacation, next thing I know I was in meetings with Lottomatica, which I never did,'' he said of the Italian company that owns GTECH.

One of the busiest criminal defense lawyers in Rhode Island, Murphy said: "I have a law partner and a law office in Providence, R.I.. and I will continue to practice law.'' Beyond that, he said he has no plans and "no one has offered me anything.''

Murphy, 46, has been House speaker since he succeeded John B. Harwood on Jan. 7, 2003. He has served in the General Assembly since 1993.

 

 Tags  General Assembly Gordon Fox providence ri William Murphy

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