Candidate Profile: Christopher Murray, Ridgefield Board of Selectmen

RIDGEFIELD, CT — The 2023 municipal election is heating up in Ridgefield and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Ridgefield Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Real estate investor Christopher Murray, 65, is running for election to the Ridgefield Board of Selectmen as a Republican. He has a BA in history from Amherst College, and an MBA Finance from Columbia University. He has been married to Lisa for 34 years, and the couple have two grown children educated in Ridgefield Public Schools.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

None

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

Former member of the Ridgefield Board of Education

Why are you seeking this office?

Local government works well. But it is increasingly impacted by State and Federal mandates, policies and politics. It will be my objective to mitigate those negative influences on Ridgefield citizens. Fiscal responsibility, personal accountability, and the preservation of freedom are my guiding philosophies.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Overdevelopment. I will champion local control over zoning, and seek realistic compromise with State mandates pertaining to housing affordability quotas.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I have a healthy respect for limited government. Too often, politicians think their job is to decide for others. My objective is to preserve and expand the ability of individual citizens to decide for themselves.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

The anticipated public safety complex needs professional oversight in order to bring this project in on time, at cost. We can't have a repeat of the SWPCA sewer project in terms of delays and cost overruns.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My real estate business is now thriving, having survived COVID. Competent persistence and alot of elbow grease made the difference. As for politics and public debate, I hope to be persuasive. Part of that is being persuadable. I have confidence the good citizens of Ridgefield will recognize the integrity I bring to the job.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Lead by example, listen, good relationships are important.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Thank you for taking the time to read about me, and I would appreciate your support on election day.