Residency of Attleboro Candidate Called into Question

, an attorney at Nixon Peabody in Boston, wants to set the record straight about his residency in Attleboro.

Murphy, who was raised in Attleboro and attended elementary, middle and high school in Attleboro, said he is a resident in Attleboro, despite what others have suggested otherwise.

According to the Attleboro Election Office, any registered voter in Attleboro can run for elected office. There is no minimum requirement at the local level on how many days out of the year that they need to reside in Attleboro, according to Elections Office Manager Maryann Draine.

Murphy has come under fire lately because he has an apartment in Boston, a place where he retreats to after working long hours at the law firm, he said.

"I work in Boston at a job that requires long hours and late nights," Murphy said. "When I decided to run for a seat on the School Committee I signed a lease on an apartment in Attleboro. As I anticipated, my apartment is in a different ward (Ward 3) than my permanent residence (Ward 6), which is why I decided to run for an at-large seat."

Murphy said he's always made Attleboro his home. Murphy is a registered voter in Atteboro and his bills are sent to Attleboro. That has been the case when the candidate was in college in New York, law school in Boston and working on Capital Hill in Washington, he said. He went on to say that the "side show" by other candidates is just a distraction from the real school issues that should be addressed.

"I will not entertain this issue again," he said. "It is not a coincidence that this issue was pushed out the same day when a write-in candidate was declared against an incumbent who has missed seven of the last eight meetings and 20 overall."

As of Monday morning no one had come forward to file any formal complaints with the City's Elections Office, according to Draine. If, however, it is determined afer the election is over that Murphy does not reside in Attleboro and Murphy is voted in as one of the at large committee members, a special election will need to be held.

Because it would have to be a city-wide election, the special election would cost taxpayers between $15,000 and $18,000.

According to the State Election office if a complaint was filed and Attleboro's Election Office chose to investigate the claim, the case would be brought to court.

As far as Murphy's concerned that will not be necessary. "I know it's a perfectly legitimate question to ask and I have answered it."