Blake's Think Tank

Debbie Murphy, a West Little Rock resident, announced today that she’ll be seeking the soon-to-be-vacant House district 31 seat that has been occupied by Rep. Dan Greenberg, a Republican, who announced for the State Senate earlier this week. Ms. Murphy is running as a Democrat.

UPDATE: The Think Tank just got off the phone with Ms. Murphy regarding her candidacy. Here’s what she had to say.

The Think Tank: It’s a big day for you. You’re running for the Arkansas House of Representatives. Why in the world would you want to do that?

Ms. Murphy: Well, I am in the position to have the time and energy.  And I would like to improve life for everyone in our state. I guess that’s kind of a standard answer.

The Think Tank: Uh, yeah.

Ms. Murphy: I’ve served on the Pulaski County Special School Board, the Governor’s Task Force on Gifted and Talented, and I’ve been active in the PTA of both schools where my children attend. I’ve done a lot of community service, too.

The Think Tank: So is education your big issue?

Ms. Murphy: That and health care. And job opportunities.

The Think Tank: So there are three?

Ms. Murphy: Yes, but they’re all related. It’s hard to pick one out. They’re all tied together.

The Think Tank: What ideas do you have around “job opportunities”?

Ms. Murphy: This state has done a good job about getting students to take AP classes. We have not done a good job for those students that do not intend to go to college. We need to look into alternatives including technical skills programs that can feed job needs right now. We have college graduates waiting tables.

The Think Tank: You mentioned health care as another important issue. What are your thoughts about the state of health care in Arkansas and what would you do to address any of the problems?

Ms. Murphy: Having been in pharmaceutical sales and married to a physician for 20 years I hear about people that don’t have health insurance. I also hear about physicians that can’t get reimbursed for the services they provide. These are the two problems.

The Think Tank: So what would you do about it?

Ms. Murphy: We need to look at the way health care is structured. And we need to educate people to take responsibility with their health care. We also need to deal with obesity in young people. It would be simple to add that into public education. I’m honestly not sure what the best answer is, but we could do a better job reaching them through our public schools.

The Think Tank: You’re running as a Democrat, but you an original resident of Chenal. Have you always been a Democrat?

Ms. Murphy: Yes. But I’ve also come to understand that it’s the relationship with the person more than the party. I’m fortunate to have lots of different relationships.

The Think Tank: When we first started talking you mentioned the importance of time. Is this your primary motivation for running?

Ms. Murphy: Time is important. No one in my family depends on my income to put food on the table. I’m committed to doing this 24/7. I don’t have the demands required to maintain a family. This will be a full time job.

The Think Tank: Do you feel that other members of the General Assembly don’t treat it as a full time job?

Ms. Murphy: I didn’t say that. I have the time to put into this. Time is the most important thing one person can give. I don’t have the full time job or the family concerns.

The Think Tank: So do you support the move to annual sessions of the Arkansas General Assembly?

Ms. Murphy: I’m not sure the voters of Arkansas understood what they were voting for. I’m not sure it’s the most cost effective way of doing things. What people are telling me is that they show up for meetings and there is nothing to meet about. It’s just too early to tell if it’s a good thing or not. But I was talking about my opponents. I understand that all three of them have full time jobs.

The Think Tank: Do you intend to make “time” a campaign issue?

Ms. Murphy: Maybe not. Maybe you should scratch that.

The Think Tank: Thanks for taking talking. Keep it real.

Ms. Murphy: Will do.

UPDATE II: Late yesterday Ms. Murphy phoned me to say that upon reflection she did feel that her ability to dedicate her full time to being a state representative was an important issue and one that she would raise during the campaign.