Mike Murphy (Mayor of Lexington, Minnesota, candidate 2024)

Ballotpedia does not currently maintain this page. Please contact us with any updates.

Mike Murphy

Nonpartisan

Candidate, Mayor of Lexington

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Personal

Birthplace

Coon Rapids, MN

Religion

Christian

Profession

Small business

Contact

Campaign website

Mike Murphy ran for election to the Mayor of Lexington in Minnesota. He was on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024.^[source]

Murphy completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Mike Murphy provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on October 5, 2024:

• Birth date: October 30, 1984
• Birth place: Coon Rapids, Minnesota
• High school: Coon Rapids
• Gender: Male
• Religion: Christian
• Profession: Small Business
• Prior offices held:
  • City Council Member (2024-Prsnt)
  • Mayor (2019-2023)
  • City Councilmember (2016-2019)
• Incumbent officeholder: No
• Campaign website

Elections

General election

General election for Mayor of Lexington

Gary Grote and Mike Murphy ran in the general election for Mayor of Lexington on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Gary Grote (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Mike Murphy (Nonpartisan)

---

	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Murphy in this election.

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Mike Murphy completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Murphy's responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Mike Murphy was born and raised in Minnesota, learning the values of hard work and community

service from his parents. His father, a dedicated Air Force veteran, instilled a sense of duty, while his mother, an immigrant from the Netherlands, taught him perseverance. Mike and his wife, Gloria, moved to Lexington in 2013, where they are raising their two daughters, Eleanor and Evelyn.

Initially aiming for a career in law enforcement, Mike’s path shifted after college due to a back injury. He then pursued entrepreneurship, building a successful 18-year career in the printing and shipping industry. Mike and Gloria are active in their community; Gloria serves on various local boards and works as a realtor.

Mike entered public service in 2016, winning a City Council seat as a write-in candidate. By 2019, he became mayor, focusing on reducing government costs, cutting taxes, and supporting local businesses, especially during the pandemic. In his spare time, Mike enjoys family activities, photography, traveling,

and outdoor pursuits like hunting and fishing on his family’s land.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Low Taxes, Fiscal Responsibility: I am committed to ensuring that our city thrives economically while

  alleviating the tax burden on our residents. With the rising cost of everyday living, it's more important

  than ever to prioritize fiscal responsibility.
• City Infrastructure: The Blaine v. Lexington water lawsuit is a pivotal issue for our city. As the former mayor, I have years of in-depth knowledge of our water system and numerous closed-session meetings with our city council & staff. I am fully committed to protecting Lexington’s water rights and ensuring our residents receive high-quality water services.
• Supporting our First Responders: My top priority is Keeping Lexington a safe place to live. Our police officers and firefighters are the backbone of our community, and I am fully committed to ensuring they have everything they need to do their jobs well.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Keeping the overall tax burden low for our community, keeping our city safe, and continuing to move Lexington forward in a poseitve way.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

An effective elected official should prioritize integrity, transparency, and a strong commitment to serving the public interest. They must demonstrate accountability by listening to their constituents and making decisions based on what is best for the community, rather than personal or political gain.

Leadership requires both empathy and decisiveness, ensuring that they can address diverse needs while taking bold steps when necessary.

Additionally, a successful official embraces collaboration, trust, and stays true to their values, even in challenging circumstances.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I believe my business experience and deep knowledge of the city make me a strong candidate for office. As a business owner, I’ve had to make tough decisions, manage finances, and solve problems—skills that directly apply to running a city. Having served as mayor, I know the ins and outs of how things work around here. I’ve seen firsthand the challenges we face, but I also know the opportunities we have to make Lexington better.

I’m someone who can balance both business and public service, and I’ve shown that I can make decisions that benefit everyone in the community. I’m committed to helping Lexington grow and thrive, and I believe my experience and track record show I’m ready to step up and lead again.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to be remembered as someone who truly listened to the people and got things done for the good of the community. My goal is to leave Lexington better than I found it—a city where families, businesses, and individuals feel proud to live and work. I’d like to leave behind a legacy of smart growth, improved infrastructure, and a stronger sense of community. Ultimately, I want folks to say that I made a real difference by putting Lexington on a path to success that benefits everyone, now and in the future.

A mayor is a leader in his or her city. What does that mean to you?

To me, being a mayor means embodying the responsibility of guiding the community with vision, compassion, and resilience.

A mayor serves as the bridge between residents and local government, ensuring their voices are heard and their concerns are addressed. It’s about unity and promoting policies that enhance the quality of life for everyone, regardless of background or circumstance.

As a leader, a mayor must lead by example, making tough decisions while remaining transparent and accountable.

Ultimately, it means being a champion for the city—driving growth, supporting local businesses, and ensuring that the community thrives both economically and socially.

If the mayor in your city is a member of the city council and there's a city manager appointed to handle the day-to-day administration of the city government, what do you believe should be the mayor's top priority in office?

In this structure, the mayor's top priority should be serving as the visionary leader and advocate for the community.

While the city manager handles daily operations, the mayor's focus should be on setting strategic goals, promoting collaboration among city council members, and engaging with residents to understand their needs and concerns.

The mayor should prioritize building strong relationships with local businesses, community organizations, and other stakeholders to drive economic growth and improve the quality of life.

Additionally, the mayor must ensure that the city council's decisions align with the long-term interests of the community and serve as a strong public figure who unites diverse voices to create positive, lasting change.

What do you love most about your city?

What I love most about Lexington is its strong sense of community. Though small in size, Lexington has a big heart, where neighbors know and support one another, and local businesses are woven into the fabric of everyday life. The city offers a unique blend of small-town charm with easy access to larger metropolitan areas, making it a perfect place to live, raise a family, and thrive.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Lexington Councilmember - Bobby Benson

Lexington Councilmember - Kim DeVries
Lexington Councilmember - Brandon Winge
Centennial School Board - Craig Johnson
Centennial School Board - Tom Kinsely
Centennial School Board - Gloria Murphy
Lino Lakes Mayor - Rob Rafferty

Anoka County Commissioner - Jeff Reinert

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2024 Elections

What's on the ballot? U.S. President U.S. Congress U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

Who represents me? U.S. Congress State executives State legislators State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards

Newsletters

The Daily Brew The Weekly Brew The Ballot Bulletin Checks and Balances Economy and Society Hall Pass Number of the Day Robe & Gavel

External links

Search Google News for this topic

Candidate

Mayor of Lexington

Website