Sangamon Sun

Republican state Rep. Mike Murphy (R-Springfield) is convinced he’s in lockstep with Sangamon County residents in opposing Senate Bill 826, which Republicans say is a partisan move to reshape operations at Capital Township against the wishes of its residents.

“I've not only heard of it, but I served on it six years as vice-chair for four of those years and chairman for two of those years,” Murphy said in a video posted to YouTube of what he saw and experienced during his six years serving on the Sangamon County Citizen’s Efficiency Commission. “You know, one thing we never talked about was making Capital Township, taking it away from the county, you know why, because it runs amazingly efficient,”

Murphy also argues that changing operations in Sangamon County will increase the size of government at a time when residents have made it clear they want smaller government. At its core, SB 826 seeks to make a change concerning expenses of conducting primary elections.

Murphy argues he knows from experience such actions aren’t needed.

“This citizens' efficiency commission was bipartisan,” he added. “We had a former Sangamon County Democratic chairman on this commission. They were not in favor of what's trying to be done today. It never was. We had a referendum, 74% of it wanted to be rolled into the county. All of our considerations for consolidation never talked about more government and this will have more government."

Murphy argues the bill could undo decades of progress across the area.

 “Please, please, don't vote yes for this bill and destroy what's been going on successfully for a hundred years,” he added. “I'm speaking as one of the two members who know what we’re talking about because we live it every day, every day. One thing I'm consistent on in my two-plus years is that when it's a local issue, I followed the lead of the members of the House of Representatives on tiffs on port districts. I look up and see what the local people want and I deliver.”