By any definition, Richard D. Murphy is not a typical politician.
A towering figure physically, yet with a soft heart and a gift for understanding people. He entered politics at a most unsavory moment and consistently demonstrated that kindness can indeed prevail.
With a sharp mind and dry wit, Murphy could seemingly get in the middle of the nastiest disagreements imaginable and soon, have both sides smiling about a compromise.
“For a guy that doesn’t have any social media, you are the most popular elected official in Los Alamitos,” said council member Shelley Hasselbrink. “Residents really love you,” she said in her tribute to Murphy.
Murphy, elected in 2012, said he first got involved with the city’s traffic commission, then decided to run for Council. “I wondered if I had something to contribute to our city,” he once said.
Instead of defining the divisive state of the council when he was first elected, Murphy said simply the council “did not enjoy a sterling reputation” back then.
Over time, Murphy said he and Dean Grose (who also said his goodbyes to the council) worked hard to clean things up. A certified public accountant, Murphy said he threw himself into learning as much as he could about city finances. What he learned was very unsettling and he provided immediate measures to begin a turnaround.
For the past two decades, city officials have fought a suffocating financial battle with its own finances and Murphy said in the interview that “I am perhaps most happy about being able to leave the city with a bright financial future.”
Murphy did not run for re-election in 2020, saying he was ready to slow down a bit. He and his wife Tina have already purchased a hilltop home in Corona and will be moving sometime in 2021.
Mayor Mark Chirco, who served as mayor pro-tem under Murphy, commended Murphy’s tenure on the city council, including serving three times as mayor. “Richard brought civility to the council,” said Chirco.
“With Richard, you always knew that whatever he said, or however he voted, he was doing what he thought best for the city,” said Chirco.
“He was our anchor,” he added, “always acting with reason and sound judgment.”
“Richard has a great sense of humor. He was never afraid to tease any one of us, and of course, himself,” said Murphy’s former mayor pro-tem.
During his final council meeting, Murphy was presented with honors and awards from the Joint Forces Training Base, Orange County Transportation Authority, the Orange County Sanitation District, the Los Alamitos Unified School District, the Rossmoor Community Services District and Sen. Thomas Umberg.
“Richard knew how to make everybody happy,” said Hasselbrink. “Everyone got what they wanted,” she said. “He’s got a gift for being able to do that,” said Hasselbrink, “allowing everyone to walk away happy.”
Even outside the city limits, she said, Richard Murphy “is the number one guy people bring up” in political discussions.
Hasselbrink thanked Murphy for his efforts to calm the internal storm of Los Alamitos and put it “in the past.”
Also, she said, Murphy was “always willing to give the cool jobs to somebody else and that he was “not afraid to cry,” a virtue she dearly respected.
City Manager Chet Simmons, who joined the city a month before the pandemic, worked closely with the outgoing mayor throughout the dilemma. Elected leaders like Richard Murphy are rare, he said. “He is a rare commodity,” said Simmons.
“True leaders make people better,” he added.
Preparing for his final remarks to the Council, Murphy told Hasselbrink that “if you want to see me cry, you’d better get ready for this one.”
Murphy’s tone was heartfelt and emotional as he delivered his remarks to the council over Zoom. Holding a handkerchief in his left hand, he often wiped his face as he delivered his last address as mayor to the Council.
“First of all, I’d like to thank the citizens of Los Alamitos for the honor of serving the city for the past eight years. I can’t figure out where the eight years went,” he said incredulously.
“I would also like to thank my supporters,” he said. “I promised to not embarrass them,” said Murphy, “and they all still talk to me so I must have met that very low bar.”
The outgoing mayor also thanked his colleagues, past and present, and said he was looking forward to watching Chirco and the newer members assume leadership.
Murphy then went around the Zoom room, thanked each of the city’s departments for their helpful “advice and solutions.”
In a heartfelt tribute to the city’s recreation department, Murphy said while they always do a fantastic job, he was amazed at what they had accomplished during the pandemic. “You guys did an incredible job, working under the most trying circumstances.”
Then he thanked Quintanar, the city clerk, saying “I’m trying to figure out what ‘my pleasure’ is code for, and I have my suspicions.” He thanked her for her professionalism and sense of humor.
He thanked the finance team for their endless work on the city’s tangled finances, and for their work in helping to achieve the passage of Measure Y.
He thanked the city attorney and regarding Simmons, the city manager, Murphy said “I’ve always believed that when it is most necessary, the right person shows up.”
Working closely with Simmons during the pandemic, Murphy said the city was blessed to have Simmons in that role.
Murphy had tearful words of praise for Chirco and Hasselbrink, with whom he had served the longest, saying their endless hours of work on the city’s budget standing committee had resulted in a better future for the city. He said Measure Y “maybe didn’t pass by the margin we hoped for, but it passed.”
For himself, Murphy said COVID had delayed he and his wife Tina’s travel plans, but for sure “I’m going to be a lot less politically correct.”
The Council had one final surprise for Murphy, presenting him with a Los Al street sign that read, “Richard Murphy Way.”
“That’s great,” he said, “I think I will put it up at home to show my wife that sometimes it should go Richard Murphy’s way.”
With that, his public service is now left to the lore of legacy, but not before officials sent him on his way saying they believe Los Alamitos is much better for it.
