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Cameron Murphy (Grand Forks School Board, North Dakota candidate, 2022)
| Cameron Murphy (Grand Forks School Board 2022) | ||
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Next election: June 14, 2022
Campaign website: "Evidence Based Education" Education:
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Cameron Murphy (Nonpartisan) is running for election to Grand Forks School Board in North Dakota on June 14, 2022.[1]
Elections
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
- See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Cameron Murphy completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click on the question to see the candidate's answer.
Who are you? Tell us about yourself in 200 words or less.
I am a scientist, inventor, and business owner. I also am quite passionate about officiating and coaching ice hockey, being a tenured level 4 USA Hockey official and coaching the 8U kids.
Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign.
- Evidence based education.
- Let our great teachers teach
- Judicious infrastructure improvement
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
I am very passionate about education as this is the spring from which all culture flows. We must restore standards to continue to be the best in the world and this starts with the local public schools.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
My first job was running my own lawn mowing business while in middle school for 3 years. I charged $10 for a regular yard and $15 for a corner lot. Service was mowing, trimming, and edging. My father was kind enough to loan me his equipment. I even bought my first improvement in a string trimmer that we still use today.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
My earliest memory of a significant historical event would be when the Cincinnati Reds won the world series in 1990. I was 4 at the time and didn't fully comprehend the significance as a Reds fan. My parents were lucky enough to get tickets and it took me until about the 3rd inning to really start enjoying the game as it was a long season with lots of baseball, and for a 4 year old just playing seemed more important.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
The Founding Fathers as a group, but more specifically George Washington.
Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?
There are not any little-known powers, but a quick education on the role of the school board is important.
What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?
The school board is completely transparent to the public. All school board member's communication with other members is subject to open record laws. There are only 9 reasons for executive session in which discussions are private. These are
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?
It can be beneficial, but is certainly not necessary. The school board is a very important body in the local community and is often a way to gain political experience.
What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?
The first is to be a critical thinker and be able to ask the tough questions. Often board members simply go along with the ""experts"" which is an incredibly dangerous course to be taken regularly. Board members must be willing to ask questions of their subordinates, the superintendent and business manager, and hold them accountable for the performance of the district and execution of board policy and vision.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
School board members must first be critical thinkers. Board members are generally not experts in education, but must be able to ask the right questions or go and research a specific topic on their own. This is also a characteristic of being a life-long learner.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
A board member must be ethical and a team player. It is always important to remember that an individual board member is irrelevant unless voting as a part of the whole board.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
There are a plethora of films in regards to education and how the board should govern. There really isn't one specifically about the school board, but there are many films about creative, passionate, and insightful teachers and coaches that inspire their pupils to achieve things they never though possible and see things in themselves that were hidden before.
What is your most recent career to date?
After a tortuous path of earning my doctorate, I have been the Vice President of Operations and Product Development for Krampade LLC. In this role I oversee day-to-day operations of Krampade and formulate new products around our high-potassium technology.
What organizations are you affiliated with?
USA Hockey, USA Wrestling
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
I am a trained scientist and as such have fantastic critical thinking skills. I am a skilled researcher and am able to quickly learn new subjects with enough walking around knowledge to have a conversation with an expert in the field, such as the superintendent.
What legacy would you like to leave?
I want to drive our school system toward the higher standards of the past. This means having a district we are proud of and having each and every school in the district be a place that both students and staff cannot wait to get to in the morning and are sad to leave in the afternoon.
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
My biggest struggle is the passing of my oldest son. He was 3 and I was not at home when he drowned in the backyard pool. There are so many regrets about the circumstances and ""what ifs"". This kind of loss changes a person and forces reflection on life and death. Since this point in time, I've come to know that each day is a gift and we only have so long to both enjoy life and make a positive impact on those around us.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
This is a tough question because it seems like I have a playlist in my head. A frequent one is ""Drifting Way of Life"" by the late Jerry Jeff Walker. I've always been a huge fan of the Texas music scene. My first concert was actually seeing Jerry Jeff at the Crosby Rodeo in Crosby, TX.
What is your favorite book? Why?
As far as fiction goes, my favorite is also my Grandmother's favorite. It is The Devil's Advocate by Taylor Caldwell. It is akin to Orwell's classic 1984, but it far more realistic and it is downright scary how similar it is to things that have happened in the recent past.
Tell us your favorite joke.
This is one my son told me:
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
I would have to say Jean Luc Picard. Just a regular Renaissance man.
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Submitted to Ballotpedia's candidate survey in 2022.
