Politics & Government

UPDATED- Murray: I Voted 'No' to Cityhood, but 100% Behind It Now

Mayoral candidate behind the city 100 percent.

One mayoral candidate admits that she voted “no” for Brookhaven cityhood during the July 31 election. She is not saying that she’s changed her mind, but Sandy Murray is explaining the reason for her vote.

“I wasn’t against making a city,” Murray told Brookhaven Patch. “I was against the rush to make a decision.”

Murray said she wanted more of a chance to “study and understand what we were getting into.”

Find out what's happening in Brookhavenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Some Brookhaven Patch readers have commented on Murray’s “no” vote:

Stan commented on Aug. 15: Sandy Murray worked hard to keep the incorporation referendum from ever being placed on the ballot, then she worked hard to oppose the creation of our City. She also said she wanted to represent our community as State Representative. I find this latest move to be more than a bit confusing and certainly has the appearance of being disingenuous. Maybe Ms Murray can tell us what she really wants.

Find out what's happening in Brookhavenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Murray wants to make sure those residents who question whether she'll be effective because she voted "no" understand that she fully supports the city now.

“I’m 100 percent for our city and our community,” Murray said. “I will work very hard to be mayor of our new city.”

What other mayoral candidates had to say:

J. Max Davis told Brookhaven Patch on Wednesday, "I just think people need to consider that carefully when they go in the voters’ booths. What are the motivations? What drives the people running for office? Where is their heart? I do think there is a big difference between a citizen who voted against the city and someone who opposed our right to vote on it and opposed the idea of a city all together and put in their energy to defeat the city.”

Larry Danese said "Certainly they (citizens who initially opposed cityhood) can run. I'm not sure if there's an integrity issue there."

Brookhaven's mayor should be "a person who can bring some integrity to the creation of the city. I would not be the one to say Sandy Murray is without that...I think that people other than Brookhaven YES should be allowed to run." He said citizens who were not engaged in the Brookhaven YES campaign could still contribute experience and expertise.

Editor's Note: The comments added from other mayoral candidates were given to Brookhaven Patch last week, before this story was written and published.

Does the way Murray voted on cityhood affect how you'll vote? What do you think about someone who initially voted "no" to cityhood running to be the new city's mayor? Tell us below in the comments.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Brookhaven