Patch Candidate Profile: Jeffrey Murphy For Brookfield Town Clerk

BROOKFIELD, CT — Election Day on Nov. 4 is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot.

Patch reached out to candidates for office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing their towns.

Candidate's Name:
Jeffrey Murphy

What office are you seeking?
Town Clerk

What town do you live in?
Brookfield

Party Affiliation:
Republican

Occupation:
Accounting & Customer Service

Family:
I come from a deeply rooted local family. I’m the fifth generation of the Murphy family to have lived in our Boughton Street home in Danbury. I was raised there with my two brothers, Gregory and Timothy, by our parents, George and Pamela Murphy both longtime members of St. Peter’s Church.

In 2018 I married into the multi-generational Brookfield Pflomm family. Five years ago, my wife, Anna-Lee, and I bought land and started building our forever home here in Brookfield with the help of her parents, Raymond and Sandra, and her brother, Andrew. We’re now raising our 15-month-old son, Jeremy.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
No.

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
I have not previously served in a public office, so I bring a clean slate and a fresh perspective. My background is in the private sector, where I’ve built experience that translates well to the responsibilities of Town Clerk.

Why are you seeking this office?
I was honored to be approached and nominated as a candidate for this office. Since the nomination I have had and will continue to have informative discussions with former and current town clerks across CT. Through these conversations, along with the support from family and friends, I’ve confirmed that this role aligns perfectly with both my experience and skill set. That is why I am confidently seeking the office of Town Clerk.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
The most pressing issue is ensuring the Town Clerk's office is making certain that all our elections are administered with complete security and transparency.

My commitment is to keep the office focused on its administrative duties, free from political influence, to serve all citizens, candidates and political parties equally. I will work with the Registrars to make sure all election procedures meet the highest standards of integrity. While it is not state mandated to go through the certification, it is my full intention to become a Certified Connecticut Town Clerk building public confidence as a result.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
The fundamental difference is my experience is administrative, and my commitment is to service, not politics.

The Town Clerk role requires a professional with direct experience in document security and regulatory compliance. My background is in exactly that work, managing sensitive legal records and financial compliance in a high-volume setting for over a decade. I am running solely as an administrator prepared for the job, while my opponent has a history of running for a higher political office.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
Another issue I intend to focus on is the timely and efficient handling of public documents. The Clerk's office manages everything from vital records to property records and official filings.

Once elected, I’ll bring my private-sector experience to help streamline operations where necessary after gaining a full understanding of what’s working, and where improvements can genuinely be made with full respect for the staff and processes already in place.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
As the DMV Billing Clerk at BMW of Ridgefield, I took the lead in the digital transition. Building the infrastructure within the software from the ground up to significantly reduce errors, eliminate missing paperwork and improve efficiency.

While working at Bank of America, I was ranked as a top performing employee. Leading to a nomination to join the Young Professional's Network as a representative for the Western Connecticut Market.

I am proud to have earned the rank of Eagle Scout, from Troop 9 in Danbury. Which even from a young age showed my qualities of leadership and dedication to the community.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
“Trust in yourself”

The day after interviewing as a potential candidate, I asked the colleague who trained me to be the DMV Billing Clerk for her thoughts on running for Town Clerk. Without hesitation, she said “That would be perfect for you!” Jeff “Trust in yourself” then proceeded to explain how everything she trained me on would be directly applicable to the Town Clerk role.

So that’s what I’m doing, trusting in myself and asking the people of Brookfield to do the same.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
Being that the Town Clerk’s office is non-political, this role is about service to the people of Brookfield not positions.

As for more about me: I grew up bowling at Brookfield Lanes near the 4 Corners, Playing Baseball at Rogers Park, and Basketball for St. Peter’s School. Later enjoying the independence of board sports, skateboarding, snowboarding and wakeboarding on Candlewood Lake. I enjoy music with horns such as Ska, Reggae, Jazz and Classical. However, I grew up on Classic and alternative rock. I look forward to sharing these interests with my son.