Dean Murray Makes Bid To Return To Albany, But In 3rd Senate District

EAST PATCHOGUE, NY — Former East Patchogue lawmaker Dean Murray is looking to return to Albany, last week announcing his intent to run as the Republican and Conservative candidate for the 3rd Senate District in November's election, with hopes to succeed Sen. Alexis Weik, who reportedly is not seeking re-election to her post.

Murray, a former broadcast journalist turned politician, held the 3rd Assembly District seat from 2010 to 2013 and then again from 2015 to 2019. During his time in the legislature, Murray "earned a reputation" as an advocate for south shore families and business owners and had a record of fighting against "unfunded state mandates and bureaucracy, as well as working to find common-sense solutions to problems," his campo said.

Murray founded the Long Island Fugitive Finder magazine, and "partnered with local law enforcement to put hundreds of criminals behind bars," and the Long Island Job Finder employment newspaper, which helped "tens of thousands of Long Islanders find new jobs and new careers," according to his camp.

Murray said the state has been "heading in the wrong direction" under the Cuomo and Hochul administrations, there was no control of crime, rising prices, and "a focus on a radical liberal agenda, rather than protecting and serving local families."

"It’s time to take back New York,” he added.

Murray said he is running because "New Yorkers need to know that they have a clear-cut choice between sticking with the radical, pro-criminal agenda" that has sent the state into a dangerous tailspin, or helping to change the leadership in Albany to return the empire state to greatness, and once again make it a place where people are proud to call home."

He pledged to work to "change the atmosphere in the state from one of fear and despair to one of pride and excitement for the future that we can create together."

Murray hopes to follow in the footsteps of Weik, "a law enforcement wife and mother, who set the standard of how a senator should represent the people they serve," his camp said.

Weik and Sen. Phil Boyle pulled out of their primaries recently, and there is some speculation that she could run in Boyle's district because her home, which is located in Sayville, has been included within its boundaries since the state's redistricting, Newsday reported.

Murray announced his run on April 13, along with Suffolk GOP Chairman Jesse Garcia, the county's Conservative chairman, Mike Torres, and the state senate's minority leader, Rob Ortt.