Murphy Is A Treasure

Wed., Nov. 1, 2000

By John Webster johnwe@spokesman.com (509) 459-5421

Treasurer Mike Murphy is one of those public officials who give government service a good name. His quiet stewardship is among the reasons the Syracuse University school of public affairs named Washington one of the four best-managed states in the country.

The treasurer manages the state’s finances - investing funds held in trust for retirement pensions and prepaid college tuition, keeping our credit rating high and processing the bonds used to finance major projects such as university libraries and highways.

Murphy also has implemented money-saving innovations for smaller public entities such as cities, rural fire districts and schools.

Now, they can take advantage of the state’s superior credit rating and its ability to consolidate financial services. The result: lower fees and interest rates on loans for humble but important local projects, such as a road grader purchase or a classroom addition.

There is not the slightest reason to replace Murphy with his inexperienced Republican challenger. Murphy richly deserves another term.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.