Murphy Broadcasting owner Rick Murphy is no stranger to politics in his state. He was twice defeated in congressional races and rebuffed by voters in his bid to change election laws. But he’s not giving up the quest and, is now trying to become the state’s governor, says The East Valley Tribune.
The Lake Havasu City, AZ resident filed initial paperwork 10/31 with the Secretary of State’s Office to wage a nonpartisan race for governor. “The move came moments after he dropped his Republican Party affiliation,” the story said. “In general, Independents have fared poorly in Arizona races. But Murphy, who has not been shy in the past about using his personal wealth to advance political causes — including $500,000 in a failed 2006 initiative to create a total vote-by-mail system — thinks he can generate enough support among what he said is a public increasingly disillusioned with the two major parties.”
Murphy said he is weighing whether to pursue public financing, a move that would get him a check for $1.3 million if he collects the necessary $5 donations.
“I think that, probably, based on the stand that I’m going to take, I’ll take as many votes from (presumed Democrat nominee) Fred DuVal as I will anybody,” he told the paper. “I’m a pretty moderate guy. I don’t subscribe to the hard left or the hard right policies.”
“The most recent voter registration figures show politically unaffiliated voters make up 34.1% of those registered. That’s less than a percentage point below Republicans — and more than four points more than Democrats,” noted the story.
From Murphy’s website, here’s a list of stations he owns and operates, mostly in the West side of the state:
KZUL-FM “Kazual”
104.5 Lake Havasu; 95.3 Bullhead/Laughlin: 95.9 Kingman
Adult Contemporary
KRRK-FM “K-Rock”
100.7 Lake Havasu, Parker, Kingman; 100.9 Bullhead, Laughlin
Classic Rock
KVAL-FM “K-Hits”
101.9 Lake Havasu; 104.9 Bullhead/Laughlin; 99.1 Kingman
Hot AC
KRCY-FM “KRAZY”
96.7 Lake Havasu, Laughlin; 103.9 Bullhead, Kingman
Classic Hits
KFTT-FM “K-FAT”
96.3 Lake Havasu, Bullhead, Kingman; 103.1 Bagdad
Eclectic, no pre-defined format…Mozart to Springsteen
See the East Valley Tribune story here.
