As Chairman of the David Murphy for Election Committee, and a father of three, I ask that all supporters please refrain from “flagging” any negative comments on this article. Further, we respectfully request anyone who considers himself or herself a supporter of Dave’s not make a negative comment about any other candidate. Period. We have two weeks left to hear from the candidates on their vision for the future of the Attleboro schools, which in turn will dictate the future of our city. Silly season is over.

Dave grew up here, lives here, and very shortly will serve here as a School Committee member. He has spelled out his priorities and his vision for the schools, and he will continue to do so through November 8th. If you would like more information please visit www.murphy2011.com. Thank you.

Jimmy Desper
Chairman, David Murphy Election Committee

I am glad that this is finally out. I am concerned that this could end up costing our city $18,000 if Mr.Murphy is elected. I grew up in Pawtucket and my mother still lives there, but that doesn't mean that I should run for office there. My opinion is since he lives in an apartment in Boston then he's not really a resident here. I understand why he would want to live in Boston while working there, but there's a big difference between being in school and using the parent's home as the address and now being a grown up, having a job, starting your life, living out on your own in Boston, and still using your parent's address. That just seems wrong. I have heard that some are looking at contacting the attorney general's office and even the ethic's commission, so this isn't as simple as Mr.Desper makes it sound.

I have a bit of a problem with this statement: "Further, we respectfully request anyone who considers himself or herself a supporter of Dave’s not make a negative comment about any other candidate." The reason being, in the article above Mr. Murphy clearly has negative things to say about current school committee members (and by the way, I was confused as to who was being attacked in one instance for a moment, Helen Johnson is also frequently absent.) When Mr. Murphy came to my door looking for signatures to get on the ballot, when I asked his opinion of current members, he had only positive things to say about ALL of them. I have a little problem with the abrupt turn-around this close to the wire. In all honestly, I haven't quite decided who I will be voting for at-large. However, I would like whoever gets my vote to have the children as their number one priority....having the school committee not put on a "side show" and get along nice with administration should take a backseat to this. As a parent, this is my opinion.

I've known Dave my entire life. He is hardworking and has developed an impressive set of goals for the school system. I am sure that voters who check out his campaign materials will be persuaded that he's the right choice. I hope that the substantive issues can be our focus as the election nears.

Dave and I have known each other for 15 years. I moved back to the area last fall and remember him telling me he had a job with a law firm in Boston. In the last 16 months, Dave and I have never seen each other in Boston. The only time I have ever seen Dave is when we are in the Attleboro area - at Morins, Weatherlaines or if we take the big trip over to North Attleboro to the 99.

The Attleboro Public Schools will be fortunate next week when they welcome such a dedicated, passionate and hard-working new member to their team next week.

I have always maintained my residency in Attleboro even when living temporarily in Boston, Washington, D.C., and New York for various academic and professional opportunities. I have never voted anywhere but Attleboro because it is the place I spend as much time as anywhere else, it is the place I consider home, it is where I am most invested, and it is where I feel most connected to the community. When I decided to run for the School Committee I got an apartment in Attleboro so there would be no confusion as to my commitment. I maintained my voter registration at my permanent address in part because more people in Attleboro associate me with that address than anywhere else. In addition, I have a small apartment in Boston that allows me to work late at my job, at which there are certain expectations of long hours (particularly for individuals who cut out early a couple nights a week to host roundtable discussions on how to improve their city or town’s school system).

I have spent the last four months focused on learning about, thinking about, and talking about the Attleboro School District and how we as a community can improve it. I will spend the next two weeks focused on learning about, thinking about, and talking about the Attleboro School District and how we as a community can improve it. I genuinely believe the people of Attleboro are more interested in who has the judgment and temperament to establish a professional and productive environment on the School Committee than this last minute attempt to make me seem like I don’t belong to the community I grew up in and the school system I graduated from. Asking for clarification as to my residency status is perfectly reasonable, and had any of the unnamed individuals who are attempting to generate this sideshow two weeks before the election taken the time to ask me, I would have been more than happy to answer their questions, as I did yesterday for the Patch.

If you have the courage to use your own name, and the confidence to articulate a vision of the school system that will resonate in the way mine has over the past couple of months, let’s hear it. Otherwise: enough.

If you have questions please call me 508-838-7032.

As Chairman of the David Murphy for Election Committee, and a father of three, I ask that all supporters please refrain from “flagging” any negative comments on this article. Further, we respectfully request anyone who considers himself or herself a supporter of Dave’s not make a negative comment about any other candidate. Period. We have two weeks left to hear from the candidates on their vision for the future of the Attleboro schools, which in turn will dictate the future of our city. Silly season is over.

Dave grew up here, lives here, and very shortly will serve here as a School Committee member. He has spelled out his priorities and his vision for the schools, and he will continue to do so through November 8th. If you would like more information please visit www.murphy2011.com. Thank you.

Jimmy Desper
Chairman, David Murphy Election Committee

It is my understanding that Mr. Murphy is qualified to run in the election per the Attleboro Election Office. Also, if there have been no formal complaints, why are we even discussing this? Let's make this about our kids. I don’t know exactly why a young AHS alum who has apparently made something of himself and become an attorney would want to put up with this, but he does so I’ll just say thanks and you have my vote.

I think Amy hit the nail on the head. Murphy is an Attleboro guy born and breed and seems to have a honest and geniune interest in giving back to the community. The most important function of the School Committee is to create an environment where the young people of Attleboro are given every opportunity to succeed. I don't care where those people lay their heads down at night as long as their hearts are rooted firmly in Attleboro.

I'm not sure why these comments are being deleted, but here is a link to Dave's response -- http://www.murphy2011.com/documents/campaign_news/Murphy%20response.pdf

It sounds to me if you are spending most of your time in Boston, sleeping in Boston, then you are a resident of Boston. I could live in Oklahoma and have mail sent to a relatives address. It does not mean I live in Attleboro. There are rules in place regarding residency for specific reasons. A person's intentions should not come into play. If you are not a resident, then you should not be able to hold an office. Drop out Mr. Murphy and stop lying to the constituents. Do you think we are all that dumb?????

Wow, C Johnson, I don't see these types of attacks convincing too many more of our successful alumni into trying to give back.

So let me get this straight. You can have to legal residences and still be legally able to run for office in either community. Sounds a little strange to me. You grow up, move out on your own and still try to claim that you live with Mom and Dad. Then you only secure your own residence in Attleboro when you take out papers. What back door politics is this? If you are in Boston working late hours and spending your time in Boston, how are you going to give top priority to the children of Attleboro. If you really believe in Attleboro and the best education for our children, let someone who truly lives here and devote their time to them to win an at-large seat in the election. What are your true motives for running? Can you honestly say, that the children's best interest will be served, if you live "part-time" in Boston? Time to think of the children Dave, not yourself. If you have a conscious, you will not pursue a seat on school committee.

So our choice is a lawyer who has to sleep in Boston sometimes when he’s on trial but graduated from AHS and cares about the schools and his community . . . or the people who are trying to divert our attention away from what a nightmare the School Committee has become? I usually wouldn’t say this, but . . . I’ll take the lawyer. Attleboro's students need to be our first priority.

Amy, I am not trying to convince our Alumni not to give back. I am merely stating that if you do not live in Attleboro, you should not hold an office. If an alumni truly lives in Attleboro, I would welcome their candidacy and would truly be willing to support them, if their vision was truly in the best interest of our children. In the case with Dave Murphy, he lives in Boston, and visits Attleboro. Yes, his root are here but he has not been a resident of Attleboro until the day he drew his papers. There is a difference and I don't appreciate being lied too. I also find it very disturbing that many comments are being deleted. Is someone trying to hide the truth behind this situation. Let comments be posted. Haven't people heard of freedom of speech.

I disagree Blythe. A lawyer who doesn't live in Attleboro (until he took out papers) is the best choice for our children. Until he has been living back in Attleboro for a little while and seeing the real issues, he is not ready to serve on the school committee. Let's bring in attorneys from all over the country, who were born in Attleboro, but who have not live here for years and let them all serve on the Committee. What an informed committee. You stated Attleboro student's need to be our first priority. How would they be our first priority if the school committee member spends more time in Boston then in the city he serves. He hasn't lived here in awhile, how can he put our student's first. Get involved in Attleboro, truly live here for awhile and then run for office. Get reaquainted with your community and schools and then run. You don't live here, you shouldn't run. There are reasons for this qualification. Should we just through out the by-laws and let anyone run for office. How would this work in government?

I don't understand how you can say you've been lied to. Murphy has been very upfront about his residency from everything I have seen. Frustrating to see that some people are focusing on issues other than the kids and improving the school system. Elect the best people rather than just perpetuating the old boys & girls network.

Mr. Murphy, why "ENOUGH". This is a pertinent issue and you should not be telling anyone "enough". If this is how you are going to deal with the tough questions, I don't think you are going to be able to work collaboratively on the School Committee. With different opinions and takes on issues, are you going to say enough to these issues? Are you going to be able to take on the responsibility of difference of opinion without getting frustrated and giving up? This is not the answer to problems Attleboro schools are facing. I think the residence issue needs to be investigated further and let a higher board give us the true facts and then this issue will be resolved. If they find that you were not a resident of Boston than this issue is null and void. But, we need to know the truth behind this issue.

Investigating the residency issues...that sounds like a smart allocation of time and resources. Johnson & Jackson seem to be very upset about this whole thing. Putting the residency issues aside, what did you see as the biggest challenges that the School Committee is facing and why did those issues require that to be qualified to address those issues the committee members never leave the Attleboro city limits? I have two young children and know that I personally would not have the time to truly dedicate to the school committee, so why not support a young man who is a success story of the Attleboro school system and wants to give back of his time to help create an atmosphere of success for kids following in his footsteps?

http://www.murphy2011.com/documents/campaign_news/Murphy%20response.pdf

It is disgusting that people will play politics like this even at the local level and at the expense of what's good for our city. No wonder there's no chance for morality at the federal level. I have personally seen Dave around the city numerous times over the last year, and I'm not someone who often ventures out as I have a 1 year old. That alone tells me he spends his time here. He works in Boston and occasionally sleeps there. That doesn't make it his place of residence. People who know nothing about him personally should not be making false claims about where he lives. They are false claims and they hurt our city. All this idiocy reminds why I would never run for office.

Matt, how can someone who works long hours in Boston devote enough time to our children on School Committee. This job is not just an hour or two every other week at a meeting. I agree with you that someone needs to be able to devote alot of time to this position. Leaving the city limits is not an issue. So based on your comment, how can Dave Murphy devote enough time to this elected office If he spends most of his time in Boston? He is not giving his full support to the children of Attleboro if he is not spending enough time in Attleboro. This is one of my concerns. I am a true believer in our government. I feel that if the governing laws state someone needs to be a resident of the City they are seeking office in, then this needs to be enforced. Regardless if the person is a great guy, and went to school here. That is not what is being questioned. How can you be dedicated to a city you do not live in or spend enough time in. Alot of people have been successful after going through Attleboro schools. If they live in Providence or Boston, should they be allowed to run for School Committe (their parents may still live in Attleboro also). Where do you draw the line? You can't just vote for someone because they have been successful in our schools and are a nice guy. This all comes back to the devotion and support of our children. You can't live or stay in another city and give your full attention to the issues affecting our schools.

If Dave's extensive listening tour is any indication, he has given and will continue to give incredible amounts of time to serving on the school committee. He seems to have gone out of his way to listen, at length, to parents, teachers, students and other community members about the school system and its needs. I this his actions show just the kind of commitment he is willing to make to Attleboro's students.

From a helicopter view, I would say that the "math" of the live-in-Boston scenarios don't make sense. So, one is to believe that Dave, who is practicing law successfully in Boston, is commuting to Attleboro so that he can have the illustrious elected position of school committee representative? He will be commuting from Boston for the night meetings and events in Attleboro and will be working fewer hours at the Boston law firm in an effort to further his political career? And the stepping stone is the school committee position? I don't want to belittle the role of school committee representative because it is very important to our community. But look at what is at stake for Dave. The scenarios don't add up unless you're using some "fuzzy math" to quote Bush senior. An equation which makes sense is that Dave is genuinely interested in and committed to Attleboro. As a former teacher at AHS when Dave went there, I see his good intentions in running for school committee.

Wow, 30 posts and only 9 are left. Even the first one where one of Dave Murphy's campaigners told his supporters not to flag posts was flagged. What exactly are you hiding Mr.Murphy for you to keep flagging these posts asking honest questions?
Even my post from this morning has been flagged and all I stated was that I was glad that this has finally come out. Simply show your new lease that you supposedly got when you first pulled your papers back in June and I don't think anyone would still have problems with you running. If you can't or won't then that means that you only have the two addresses, your parents where I do not question that you grew up but no longer live, and the apartment you rent in Boston. I do get that you need that apartment because you work long hours in Boston, but you admit you live there and sleep there at least 5 days a week. Everything else doesn't matter. What is right is right, and what is wrong is wrong. Honestly I do think you might be a good school board member but you really should first establish your real residency in Attleboro before you run as a grown up living out on your own. If you do this over the next two years I will probably support you in 2013. But right now I have to be worried about how if you are elected it could cost this city an extra $20,000 for a reelection. If this is investigated before November 8th and verified with the Ethic's Commision and the Attorney General's office and is ok then great, I will wish you good luck.

I think that we can all agree that this issue clearly needs to be brought to the Attorney Gereral's office and the Ethic's Commision. Why not just move to Attleboro and commute like everyone else? How does the AG get involved? This is all simply too suspect. If Mr. Murphy really has nothing to hide, I would ask that he personally contacts the AGs office to conduct a full investigation. He is an attorney, I'm sure he knows how to do that.

I wrote a comment simply saying that the scenario of Dave living and working in Boston did not make sense to me. This gets flagged as INAPPROPRIATE???
Come on PATCH readers! These forums are about free speech, not censorship; respect for the opinions of others, not just opinions with which one agrees. It's a real violation to me and to any poster whose entry gets removed NOT because those entries are inappropriate, but because readers don't want others to read them.

I read your comment Bob, it was very well-worded and appropriate. Wasn't there an article here recently on the flagging and post-removal process? I thought I had read that multiple flagging did not necessarily mean a post would be removed. Patricia, would it be possible to please link to it?

Mr. Murphy needs to work late nights and sleep in Boston, because he "cuts out early for round-table discussions." What happens if he is elected. I have to work late and stay in Boston because I had to cut out early for a School Committee Meeting or an Executive Session. He won't be able to devote his time to the constituents. If it already is an issue "cutting out early" and having to work late on other nights, what time will he have for the children of Atttleboro? He has admitted to leasing property when he took out papers. This shows that he needed to try to show that he has residency in Attleboro. He was not a resident and tried to cover it up by this. I still get mail at my parent's address, but I do not live there. Just because you are still listed at your parent's address, it does not mean you still live there. David, show us you lease from Boston. Do you pay taxes in Boston? I am sure you do. You are a resident of Boston. The election office needs to look into this further. If they do not, they have done great injustice to the constituents of Attleboro. Anyone can run for office and not even be a resident of the City? The constituent deserve the truth and this should be taken seriously and looked into.

What address is on his license, car registration and state/federal taxes?

To Jimmy: you are incorrect. For some reason Mr. Murphy is pulling me into this post. I am not running At-Large so I am not Mr Murphy's opponent. Just because he is being questioned about his residency on the day that my opponent announced his candidacy why does this involve me?? Mr. Murphy: Maybe you can shed some light on this? We've only ever spoken once and had a very pleasant conversation. Why am I being included in this dialogue? But since you have brought me in and we are on the subject, I do have to wonder why you would need to lease an additional apartment in Attleboro if Attleboro is already your primary residence?

I have questioned this long before now. I even wrote to the state ethics commission over a month ago. I also went to the election committee to see about this however I could not file a formal complaint because the comments from the Patch about him not living here magically disappeared (flag much?) I am sure he knows I filed a complaint with the ethics commission.

Thank You JY. I've been saying for a while that this needed to go through the legal process. I hope the Elections comission looks into this and reports back before the election. Dave's selfish behavior could very likely cost the City $20k. I cannot in good conscience vote for David Murphy.

My understanding is the ethics commission is not able to investigate this any further until he is elected and Sarah you are right. When they prove David Murphy is not a resident here, it will cost up to $20k to have a special election. If David cares so much about the city that gave him his education, then he needs to not be selfish and withdraw his candidacy. If he is looking to become Mayor some day, then he needs to move to Attleboro, live here awhile, maybe run for City Council, then take a shot at being Mayor. If he really cares about Attleboro, he will drop out of the race.

Lisa I couldn't agree more. Maybe David is a good heated person who will be a great school board member, but this could be very bad for Attleboro. Dave, if you are leasing a second apartment in Attleboro, which is what you said you did right before you pulled your papers to run, then show them to the Chronicle and Patch so that this is done. If you don't do this then you probably never leased this mysterious apartment in Attleboro, are trying to use your parents address so you can start your political run in Attleboro, and you really live and sleep in Boston. The people of Attleboro need to know that this will be investigated if Mr. Murphy wins a seat, which will be more bad press for the schools, and will likely lead to another city wide election to fill a vacated seat by a member who never should have been allowed to run in the first place. Dave, if you don't drop out now, and you can say that it is because you did not know the rules when you pulled your papers, and you end up being investigated, which you will, your political career, and anything that you might have done that could have been positive, will be destroyed. I look at you as someone who might be mayor someday, so drop out, move back, and run in two years.