Ex-School Board, County Commission member plans to run for Butler's seat

Larry Murphy said he plans to run for the Aiken County Council seat that Eddie Butler will vacate when he resigns Nov. 3.

Filing for Council District 5 begins July 17, and Murphy, a former member of the Aiken County Board of Education and the early Aiken County Commission, will throw his hat into the ring.

"I didn't anticipate running for County Council," he said. "I just thought it would be good to run. I don't have any issues with Council, no ax to grind. And I am not running against Eddie Butler; I think he's done a good job."

Butler will step down in November after nearly 20 years on Council because he is building a new house outside his district. Whoever is elected to replace Butler will fill out the remainder of the term, which ends December 2010.

Murphy, 71, served on the Board of Education from 2000 to 2008 and on the first Aiken County Commission from 1972 to 1974.

The County Commission was signed into law by Gov. John West in 1972, and seven members were elected. Murphy served Area 3, which is now Councilwoman LaWana McKenzie's district.

Murphy said a pressing issue facing the commission from the start was the County Hospital. The building, which now serves as the County complex, was showing its age and growing overcrowded. The commission considered constructing a new hospital or allowing a private corporation to build one, and the final vote favored the latter.

Murphy voted for the private corporation option.

In the end, the Hospital Corporation of America became the provider of the new hospital.

In 1974, he ran for re-election to the commission but lost.

His eight years on the Board of Education were spent "trying to develop things that needed to be developed," Murphy said. "While I was there, we built two new schools - Mossy Creek Elementary and Byrd Elementary. I feel like that was in the plus column."

He said he would bring leadership to County Council if elected.

"I feel like I've been there and done that," he added.