Brian R. Murphy Running For BOS In Providence District: Profile

FAIRFAX, VA — Brian R. Murphy, 71, has worked in real estate for 32 years and as a general contractor for 34 years. He's also a candidate in the race to fill the Providence District seat on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

A Republican, Murphy is hoping to unseat Dalia Palchik, who is a Democrat and the current Providence District supervisor.

Election Day is Nov. 7 in Fairfax County, where registered voters will be casting ballots for candidates running for open seats on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and School Board races. In Fairfax County, candidates are running to be chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, sheriff, commonwealth's attorney, and clerk of the court, as well directors on theas Soil and Water Conversation District. Votes will also be choosing who will represent them in the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates.

Related: Dalia Palchik Running For BOS In Providence District: Profile

The first absentee ballots for the General Election were mailed on Friday, Sept. 22, which was also when early voting began. Early voting will continue through Nov. 4, which is three days before Election Day. More information about about how to register to vote, vote early, request an absentee ballot and find your polling place in Falls Church and Fairfax County is available online.

Patch invited each of the candidates running in Providence District supervisor's race to fill out a questionnaire about their campaigns. Patch does not edit the responses of candidates to its election questionnaire. The following are Murphy's responses.

Name

Brian R. Murphy

Position sought

Supervisor; Providence District

Age (at the time of election)

71

Campaign Website

BrianMurphy4Supervisor.com

Family: Names, ages and any pertinent detail you wish to share.

N/A

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

BA Economics

Occupation - Please include years of experience

32 yrs Real Estate; 34 yrs General Contracting

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Why are you seeking elective office?

The policies of the current elected officials are have a material adverse impact on my client base.

The single most pressing issue facing the Providence District is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Crime. We are currently about 150 - 200 police officers short of a fully staffed department. I will put more resources to hiring new officers to get us to full capacity. I will immediately meet with our police chief to explore any and all ways we can provide the resources they need to reduce the sharp rise in crime we are currently experiencing.

At the same time, I will explore every means by which to end the abuse of prosecutorial discretion by the sitting Commonwealth's Attorney. The surest way to end crime is to prosecute criminals and put them in jail. The current CA's arbitrary refusal to prosecute criminals apprehended by proper police procedures only leads to MORE crime and negatively impacts the morale of our police officers as they see a revolving door at the Fairfax County jail.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I earn my living in a competitive free market as an entrepreneur. I don't get paid a regular salary. My income is a direct function of my efforts and my relationships with the clientele I have built up over 32 years in my business. I am immediately engaged in the marketplace and immediately affected by the bad decisions made by my opponent.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

Taxes and spending are out of control. In my opinion, this board has exceeded its authority in the changes to the assessment calculations to arrive at the basis upon which the County levies the real estate property tax rate. The have changed the nature of the tax from a property tax to a tax on unrealized capital gains. This has drastically increased the tax burden on homeowners in Fairfax County. It fuels the hyper-speculation occurring in the real estate market and defeats the free market forces that usually yield affordable housing.

This board has also embarked upon an aggrandizement of its activities beyond being good stewards of the public facility created by the General Assembly and expanded from time to time with their permission. This board has engaged in social engineering activities that are in my opinion beyond the scope of their mandate to ensure public safety and carry out proper administration.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I am in complete support of my traditionalist colleagues who are running for the School Board. We have a major crisis in Fairfax County Public Schools. We do not have the luxury of time to wait and see if the abandonment of the "three R's" is working. It isn't. The results are in and FCPS has fallen very far from its prestigious past.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Manager of Information Services of the asset management department for Equity Programs Investment Corporation. Chief Financial Officer of Triangle Development Company. Managing Partner of Tri-Star General Partnership.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Always leave things better than they were when you found them.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I have an abiding faith that people know what it best for them and will act in their best interests. I believe a robust free market economy provides the best structure in which people can act in their best interests to build a better future for them and their families.