Matthew Scott Murphy (born January 26, 1970; known commonly as Scott Murphy) is an American businessman, entrepreneur and venture capitalist, from Glens Falls, New York and the congressman for New York's 20th congressional district, which centers around much of the eastern portion of New York's Capital District.

Early life and career

The son of a teacher and mail carrier, Murphy graduated from David H. Hickman High School, Columbia, Missouri in 1988, and later graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University.

Murphy worked for Bankers Trust for two 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. 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, a venture capital partnership.

According to an election press release, Scott Murphy has "been a catalyst in developing over twenty businesses resulting in the creation of more than 1000 jobs and renewed opportunity for American families".

He currently serves as President of the Board of Directors of Upstate Venture Association of New York, Inc. He also worked as an aide, Deputy Chief of Staff, and fundraiser for former Governors of Missouri Mel Carnahan and Roger B. Wilson.

2009 special election

On January 22, 2009, Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat representing , was appointed by Governor David Paterson to fill the United States Senate seat vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton, who assumed the office of United States Secretary of State in the Obama administration. On February 1, 2009, Murphy was chosen by a unanimous vote of ten Democratic county chairs to be their party's nominee for 2009 special election to fill Gillibrand's seat in the House. Following his selection, he stated, "I am excited and honored to be selected to follow in the footsteps of the extraordinary Senator Gillibrand as the Democrat nominee."

Murphy ran against Republican nominee Jim Tedisco, from Schenectady, who, until April 2009, was the Minority Leader of the New York State Assembly. Like Gillibrand in the 2006 congressional election, Murphy was a relatively unfamiliar candidate facing a better-known challenger. The National Republican Congressional Committee accused Murphy of owing $210,550 in back taxes and penalties from Small World Software, the company he sold in 1998. Murphy's campaign responded that the tax payments in question were not due until after the sale, and were therefore the responsibility of the acquiring company, not of Murphy; “Scott Murphy paid all his taxes,” said a spokesperson. The nonpartisan website FactCheck.org confirmed that, under the law, the taxes were the obligation of the acquiring company, and were never owed by Murphy.

A few days before the election, Murphy received the endorsement of Eric Sundwall, who had entered the race on the Libertarian Party line until his petitions were challenged by Tedisco. Sundwall wrote:

I will be voting for Scott Murphy on Tuesday.

While we disagree on some important issues, I find him to be a man of honor, a good family man and successful businessman.

Unlike Tedisco, he actually lives in the District.

And, unlike Mr. Tedisco, I view Scott's business success as a virtue, not a vice.

President Barack Obama endorsed Murphy, highlighting Murphy's business background and reported experience helping create jobs and growing businesses.

The initial count from the election had Murphy leading by approximately 60 votes out of more than 150,000 cast. However, by April 24, after re-tallies and absentee ballot counting, Murphy was ahead by 399 votes, and Tedisco conceded the election. Murphy was sworn in on April 29.

Congressional career

Committee assignments

Rep. Murphy serves on the same two committees as his predecessor, now-Senator Kirsten Gillibrand:

• Committee on Agriculture
  • Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research
  • Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture
  • Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry
• Committee on Armed Services
  • Subcommittee on Terrorism and Unconventional Threats
  • Subcommittee on Strategic Forces

On November 7, 2009, Murphy voted against the Affordable Health Care for America Act, a Democratic bill.

Personal life

Murphy is married to Jennifer Hogan, a native of Washington County. They have three children, Simone, Lux and Duke.

References

1. Murphy can be found in the 1988 yearbook, is mentioned in the 2008 Commencement Program (PDF), and can be found in the Alumni database (The graduation year is incorrectly listed as "2007", but it has the Murphy's correct Glens Falls home address)
2. New partners commit $30 million to iXL, Elizabeth Vaeth, Atlanta Business Chronicle, January 23, 1998
3. Election Vote count
4. Election Vote count
5. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/11/08/us/politics/1108-health-care-vote.html

External links

• Scott Murphy's Official U.S. House website
• Campaign website