Congressional candidate Nate McMurray speaks with Wheatland/Scottsville voters interested in learning about his platform and positions on issues of importance including education, healthcare, and prosperity for the 27th district in Western New York. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Crowley.
BY JENNIFER CROWLEY
Since the August 8th, 2018 arrest of U.S. Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY) who is accused of insider trading, the name “Nate McMurray” has been receiving significant attention in both Western New York and nationally. Only weeks ago, however, McMurray, who secured his ballot spot in a June 26th primary win, was spending eight hours each day driving across the sizable 27th district to meet with voters. During his travels on July 28th, he made a stop in Scottsville to introduce himself to possible future constituents curious to hear his views on the challenges and opportunities facing Western New York.
The talk that McMurray, who currently serves as Town Supervisor in Grand Island, NY, gave in Scottsville included a brief history lesson on the 27th district. The 27th is a largely rural district that stretches across a big piece of Western New York. In fact the sheer size of the district rivals that of some states. The counties of Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming comprise the district as do areas of Erie, Ontario, Niagara and Monroe counties. In Monroe county, only the towns of Wheatland/Scottsville, Rush, Mendon/Honeoye Falls, Hamlin and Clarkson are included in the 27th. All other county towns, villages and the city of Rochester are in the 25th district, previously represented by the late U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter.
After the 2010 census revealed a decrease in the population of New York, the state faced mandatory congressional redistricting. During this process two districts were eliminated thus increasing the size of some other districts. Prior to this event the 27th district had primarily been comprised of the greater Buffalo area southward to Chautauqua. Given this fact it is not surprising that congressional political players outside of Buffalo and its suburbs have not gained traction in the revised district, particularly those backed by the Democratic party.
But McMurray is hellbent on changing that. One has to look no further than his campaign slogan, “Fight Like Hell,” to understand the passion he has for the people of Western New York.
With such an ambitious agenda, it doesn’t hurt that the 43 year-old McMurray is the type of guy that is hard to miss as he enters a room. Tall and confident, the gregarious Irish-American has a look to him reminiscent of comedian and talk show host Conan O’Brien. He walked into the gathering not with an entourage, but with only two campaign staffers (out of the three total he had at that point in time). He readily joked with voters about the heat of the day (in his button down shirt, pants and leather shoes) and the miles he is clocking on his Ford Fiesta.
But after that, McMurray’s tone got quite serious. He talked about how his entrance into politics wasn’t a lifelong dream but rather a calling that found him – and during a time in which his professional career was in full upward motion. To help voters understand the upbringing that shaped his world views, he next shared a personal story. His father, a construction worker and proud Democrat, tragically died from cancer when Nate, the second youngest of seven children, was only four years-old. Watching his mother struggle with the nonstop financial and emotional pressures that resulted from her having to raise a large family as a single parent affected McMurray in profound ways.
After graduating from high school in the Buffalo suburb of North Tonawanda, McMurray’s college career started at Erie Community College where he took night classes. He talked about the jobs he worked during this time, from cleaner to clerk, just to try and make ends meet. Eventually he transferred to SUNY Buffalo where he graduated with honors. From there he pursued his law degree and continued with further legal studies in Asia. It was during this time that McMurray was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study the development of constitutional democracy in South Korea.
McMurray’s success in the field of law took him all over the world yet he says that when it came to where he and his wife would raise children, there was no other option besides Western New York. The former Eagle Scout often cites the natural beauty of the area as its most compelling feature. Eventually he and his family settled in Grand Island after returning home. The town has a population of about 20,000 and sits in Erie County. McMurray described Grand Island, which is as large as Manhattan, as geographically unique, essentially resting between two nations. “There are no skyscrapers in Grand Island,” he joked, “only trails, kayak launches, boat marinas, and fields.”
McMurray entered politics in 2016 when he was encouraged to run for Town Supervisor in Grand Island. Despite being a primarily Republican area, he won. From here he started on a mission to make the town easier to do business with while at the same time improving its draw as a “destination.” Through engaging with constituents in that role McMurray was exposed to the simmering unhappiness of many voters who felt like their voices had been going unheard for too long. It was a feeling he knew well. It is why he entered that race despite it being a longshot for him to win; it is the same reason he entered the Congressional race as well, ultimately beating out four others to secure his name on the ballot.
As for the candidate’s platform, it is a lot of motherhood and apple pie, which is exactly what many voters are seeking in this day and age. “Jobs borne out of innovation, a strong education system that is fair for all, lower healthcare costs, a clean environment – these shouldn’t be what we aspire to these days, these should all be standards in America,” offered one event-goer.
Echoing these sentiments, McMurray emphasized that he’s a fighter and that he will fight for families, “Like the one I grew up in — good people struggling to get by in a system that cares less and less about what matters to them.”
On August 11th Congressman Collins suspended his re-election effort given the congressman’s arrest earlier in the week. As of the date this was written, August 13th, no replacement candidate had been confirmed by the Republican Party.
