By John Peters
Editor
For Mark Murphy, building a sense of community spirit and togetherness is important.
Hopes to help spur more of that sentiment among residents in Littleton is behind Murphy’s decision to run for the town board of commission, he said in announcing his candidacy for office last week.
"I want to see this town grow, see people get together," he said. "I don’t want to see a Wal-mart, I want to see more shops, smaller mom and pop stores."
And that, he said, can be accomplished, at least in part, if the community bands together to meet town needs.
"I’ve been to town meetings and people come to the commission and complain about yards that are overgrown, homes falling down, junked cars and other unsightly property in town.
"Why can’t we just get together, as a community go clean up those areas and hire someone with a truck to come and haul it off?" he asked. He’s quick to add that he understands there may be legal liability issues that would prevent a literal follow-through on what he suggests, but it’s the sentiment he wants to get across.
"People talk about grass growing through the sidewalks. I look at that as something we can do as a community. Instead of hiring someone to come in and take care of that, why not have a community clean-up day?"
Murphy, the chef at Main Street Station, moved here in October, bought a home on Roanoke Avenue, and has adopted Littleton as his home.
He said one of the things he’s enjoyed most since moving here is the annual Independence Day parade, but he would like to see more community involvement in things like that -- with merchants supporting it more, and a larger number of volunteers involved.
"I’d also like to see a Founder’s Day celebration here," he said.
If Murphy comes across as big on parades, festivals, and town activities, that’s because he’s lived elsewhere, and seen those types of events help solidify people working together in a community.
In downtown Wake Forest, he said the community had a sidewalk painting day to make the sidewalks look like they were cobblestones.
He said families and people of all ages turned out to participate.
"That got kids involved, adults involved, the whole community involved."
"Littleton reminds me so much of Coconut Grove," he said, referencing the Florida town where Murphy once lived. "That town has really grown. It’s busy, but there aren’t many big chain stores and businesses. It’s still 90 percent small mom and pop businesses and it’s always busy."
Murphy said he started thinking about running for the town board in December.
"I’ve never been much for politicians," he said. "But, I don’t look on being on town council as being a politician. I look at it as being part of the town, helping the town growing, becoming a part of the town and helping any way I can."
Though he cites the desire to build community spirit and wanting to serve the town, Murphy does have a few particular areas of interest that have cropped up on before the board.
Two are the cemetery issue and junk cars. The town cemetery has been a central issue in the time Alfred E. Cooke, Sr., has been on the board, despite the fact that the town did increase funding there. The junk car issue has been one brought up by several town residents, prompting the town to send out letters to land owners asking them to move the cars.
"For issues like that, we need to get what we’re doing set, get it done, and them move on and stop dwelling on it," he said. "Some of those have been resolved," he added.
He would also like to see the town get behind the Main Street USA program proposed by Main Street Station owner Jack LaFoon. The program is one that seeks federal grants to help towns develop and attract businesses, but local firms must get involved to help support the program.
Murphy also said he does not have a lot of patience for people who complain the police department is costing too much.
The department – with four full-time officers and three part-time – is about the right size, for now, Murphy said. "But, as the town grows, it will need more funding and need to grow," he said. "And, I hear people, at council meetings, complain about how much the police spend driving back and forth to Halifax. But, we have no jail in town, no magistrate, what do you expect? They (deputies) have to make that drive."
Though he doesn’t shy away from such issues, Murphy, seeking elected office for the first time, comes back to his main objective for running.
"I just want to help work toward building a stronger community," he said.
|
