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Murphy Releases Residency Documents

The school committee member who faces a residency hearing tonight calls the challenge against him "a transparent attempt to undo a decision rendered by the voters of Attleboro."

 

On the eve of a hearing challenging his Attleboro residency, School Committee member David Murphy released a number of documents to the media that he says prove "I was, I am and I will be a resident of 49 Pioneer Circle in Attleboro."

[The documents are attached to this article.]

The documents include driver's licenses dated from 1999 to the present containing the Attleboro address, various financial documents featuring the Attleboro address and signed affidavits stating he lives in Attleboro from three people: the head of the Democratic City Committee, a friend and his father.

Also included in the packet is a vehicle registration dated May 14, 2012 that features the Attleboro address. Murphy wrote in a statement that when he was elected last fall his vehicle was registered to an address in Boston, where school district parent Jennifer Crowder has accused him of living. He wrote this does not mean this was his official residency.

"When I had an apartment in Boston, I needed to register my car there in order to obtain a parking permit, which is something I disclosed to the Election's Department prior to the 2011 election," he wrote. "This lone fact did not, and again would not, make Boston my headquarters for various legal purposes. There is no point in having a place to sleep in Boston if you do not have a place to park in Boston."

He continued, "When I relinquished possession of my Boston apartment, for reasons completely unrelated to Ms. Crowder's plight, my car registration reverted to my legal residence, my headquarters for various legal purposes, and my home: 49 Pioneer Circle in Attleboro."

The Election Commission will hold a residency hearing at 6 p.m. in the City Council chambers at City Hall. Crowder submitted a number of documents in her complaint that she says prove he was a Boston resident when he was elected in November.

Regardless of what Murphy's residency was last fall, it appears the commission will not be determining that tonight. Commission Chair Fran V. Hutton said at a meeting last month that the four-member panel would be determining whether he lived in Attleboro on July 16, the date Crowder submitted the complaint, due to advice from the Secretary of State's office via a city solicitor.

Crowder said after the meeting that her current challenge and previous versions of it were submitted at the advice of the Election's Department. If there was a problem with how they were submitted, it was not her fault, she said. However, she said she was not deterred by the announcement Murphy's residency on July 16 would be the only issue considered at the hearing, saying she has "a plan."

In his packet, Murphy addresses why he had not previously released documents featuring his residency as some people have claimed he should. He wrote:

1. Citizens, elected or not, cannot allow themselves to be coerced into disclosing private information through the use legal processes as political weapons; and
2. No amount of documentation will ever convince the individuals pursuing this of my valid residency. They are simply immune to laws and facts.

Murphy has claimed that there are several people behind the challenge (who he has not identified), and that Crowder is a pawn. She has denied this accusation, and says only one person has assisted her. This person, who she has declined to identify, is not involved in local politics and is helping because of her legal knowledge, Crowder said.

Regarding the complaint, Murphy wrote that it is "a transparent attempt to undo a decision rendered by the voters of Attleboro."

"It is frankly less offensive to me than it is to our democratic process," he wrote. "There are major challenges facing the Attleboro school district in the coming academic year that will affect our nearly 6,000 students whose summer has now passed the halfway mark. Those 6,000 students have been and will continue to be my focus, as that is the job I was elected to do."

The hearing is open to the public. It is expected to appear live on local channel 15. Attleboro Patch will confirm whether that will happen later today.

Related Topics: David Murphy and residency challenge

Max Opus

10:04 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012

Jen "pouter" now can go back to whatever it is she did before this colossal waste of time was initiated.

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Chrys Swenson

10:45 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012

At least Ms. Crowder uses her real name and isn't hiding her opinions behind a fake name. Unlike so many here that cowardly hide in the shadows because of some nameless force that might squash them. Ha ha. Those that post with our real names know the truth. You don't want to be held accountable for your opinions, the rude things you say and lies you tell. I'd rather be unpopular for my beliefs than a complete fake.

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Jonathan Friedman

10:47 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012

I have no opinion on this issue. I am just the person who covers the story. But I agree with Chrys and applaud Jennifer for using her real name when she posts on this site.

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Max Opus

9:03 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012

I choose to use a pen name. Deal with it. However, that doesn't excuse me from being fully accountable for my opinions. I don't lie and I will try not to be rude. I really see this as Ms. Crowder imaking these accusations and wasting taxpayers money. If she is not (as others have written) a puppet for the "council sisters", then she really needs to get a life an let this go.

Christine Viveiros

11:01 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012

I happen to agree with Max. My thoughts exactly. A complete waste of time. This may be plagiarism but "Jen "pouter" now can go back to whatever it is she did before this colossal waste of time was initiated". That's my opinion and this is my real name. :)

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Adam Edward

11:52 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012

You can show people all the facts yet they still won't believe it. The tension in the school committee meetings must be off the charts.

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christopher tingus

12:36 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012

Jennifer Crowder is an individual I have never met, yet in following this local story, it is obvious she can best be best described as an individual who is courageous and having perspicacity! Bravo! While the issue at hand may not be the most pressing issue confronting Attleboro or any of our communities so overburdened by far too large a role of government imposing itself on residents and having little transparency in presenting itself line by line in expenditures....it is essential that those willing to serve the community adhere to the by-laws or specific legal requirements acknowledged by the community.

All should stand an applaud Ms. Jennifer Crowder this evening for everyone should be willing to ask questions and all should be entitled to te attentiveness to their reply.

Christopher Tingus
www.bigdiglifevest.com

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bob leroux

8:31 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012

You can't get a Boston "RESIDENT" parking pass if you are not a resident of Boston. Mr. Murphy may be a resident of Attleboro now, but he wasn't when he was elected. This is the issue and this is the point. He lied and now covered it up. He changed everything over to prove he was a resident in Attlebor as of July. Who wants a lieing, deceptive, cheat for a school committee rep. As for Mr. Opus blaming this on the sisters, they have lived here all their lives and went to school here. They haven't lied. At least they are honest and not trying to fool the public. I would take either of them over this deceitful crook anyday.

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Christine Viveiros

3:33 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012

You CAN get a resident parking pass if you show proof of residency....ie...an electric bill. Did you watch or attend the hearing? He clarified his reasons for obtaining this parking pass. He never lied or deceived anybody. You choose to believe he lied. He did not cover up the fact that he had this apartment when he ran for SC. He provided his Attleboro residency info to the election commission when he ran. He recently released all his information for all to see. Where is the solid proof that Ms Crowder has? A verbal, illegal statement from the RMV? I'd rather have a SC rep who lives in Attleboro and Boston, but attends 100% of the meetings representing me and my kids over a SC rep who resides in Attleboro and Florida but only attends a minimal amount of meetings. If you believe he is a "deceitful crook", then you are only fooling yourself.

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Reason

3:56 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012

At this point I don't believe facts will change the minds of those against Mr. Murphy. It's a pathetic grab for attention when time could be spent pursuing more important issues.

Max Opus

2:32 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Thanks Bob... good to know. Appreciate your input. Tell the sisters I said "Hey"

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Darren Major

4:19 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Outside of not following the people most of the posters here go with/support - what has he done so wrong? Fact based please!

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