Matthew Scott Murphy[1] (born January 26, 1970) is an American entrepreneur and politician. He represented parts of New York state's Capital District (excluding the city of Albany) in the United States House of Representatives for a portion of one term from April 2009 until January 2011. He was defeated for election to a full term on November 2, 2010.
Murphy worked for Bankers Trust for two and a half years in the early 1990s before becoming an entrepreneur. In 1994, he co-founded an interactive media company, Small World Software. In 1998 the company, which had grown to 25 employees, was purchased by the internet-consulting company iXL.[5] He then served as one of the heads of the purchased entity, rebranded "iXL New York". iXL later went bankrupt in 2002 during the end of the dot-com bubble. In 2001 Murphy joined Advantage Capital Partners, an Impact Investing Company that attempts to bring businesses, technologies and jobs to communities that have historically lacked access to investment capital.
On February 1, 2009, Murphy was chosen by a unanimous vote of ten Democratic countychairs to be their party's nominee for 2009 special election to fill Gillibrand's seat in the House.[9][10]
The initial count from the election had Murphy leading by approximately 60 votes out of more than 150,000 cast.[12][13] However, by April 24, after re-tallies and absentee ballot counting, Murphy was ahead by 399 votes,[14] and Tedisco conceded the election.[15] Murphy was sworn in on April 29.[16]
In December 2010, Murphy voted for the Protecting Students from Sexual and Violent Predators Act,[20] which require criminal background checks for school employees and prohibits the employment of school employees who refuse to consent to a criminal background check, make false statements in connection with one, or have been convicted of one of a list of felonies or any other crime that is a violent or sexual crime against a child. The felonies included are homicide, child abuse or neglect, rape or sexual assault, crimes against children, spousal abuse, kidnapping, arson, and physical assault, battery, or drug-related offenses, committed within the past five years.
Committee assignments
Rep. Murphy served on the same two committees as his predecessor, now-Senator Kirsten Gillibrand:
Murphy is married to Jennifer Hogan, a native of Washington County.[1] They have three children, Simone, Lux and Duke. All three attend school in New York City while living part time in Glens Falls.[citation needed]
