LaVert A. Murray is running for the Unified Government Commission, 1st District at large, position.
“I was one of several candidate-applicants that interviewed with the UG Commission about a year ago to fill this vacant seat. At the conclusion of that process I committed to file for election to the office after watching the Commission dead-pan and deadlock on the matter. I purposefully filed late as I wanted my filing to be distanced from some other very important community matters I was involved in,” Murray said.
Murray, a former UG community development department director, said he believed in being strategic, applying critical thought and innovation in whatever approach is taken to resolve issues. He said one person can make a difference if that person remains rational and independent-minded, practices good stewardship and care about the concerns of other people.
Murray said his skills, accomplishments, experience and familiarity with all sectors of the community sets him apart from all the other candidates. Murray retired after 37 years of service with the UG.
“I have pursued balance and growth for every sector of our community and I can point to hundreds of initiatives from the downtown to the western growth corridor to further illustrate a record of accomplishment,” Murray said.
He added he has a “never give up” mentality that would help his efforts on the UG Commission.
Murray described himself as a fiscal conservative who believes property taxes must be reduced. He also said that development incentive policies should for the most part be revenue-neutral so that they do not add to taxpayers’ burdens.
Murray is familiar with the UG’s charter ordinance, and was a member of the UG’s speakers bureau on government change and key tax issues.
“If elected, I would endeavor to influence the commission to take bold and innovative actions to lift up our community,” Murray said. “Our county is plagued by a negative perception and image that is a result of high crime, high taxes and a high rate of apathy. We must aggressively attack and change these conditions.”
Sustainable jobs would go a long way in addressing crime, he believes. “I believe it can be done if we can avoid the pitfalls of gridlock and each and everyone of us get on the same page,” he said.
Murray believes the UG will be severely challenged by the financial condition of the state and budget cuts.
“While many of the candidates for this position have supported the governor’s policies, I believe we must remain independent-minded and innovative in our approach to responsible fiscal oversight and stewardship,” Murray said. “This is the only way we are going to survive this fiscal crisis.”
Murray previously ran for a spot on the Kansas City Kansas Community College board in 2013 and 2009.
Murray, a 1971 University of Kansas graduate in political science and economics, received the KU Black Alumni Chapter’s African-American Leaders and Innovators award in 2013. The award cited his efforts in helping to develop the Village West area. He is a 1969 graduate of KCKCC.
Murray and others also organized the first Martin Luther King Jr. birthday celebration in Kansas City, Kan., in 1984.
He was named Man of the Year in 2002-2003 by the Kansas-Nebraska Conference of the AME Church. He also is a past member of the Donnelly College Board of Trustees. He helped in the opening of the Boys and Girls Club Community Center.