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Murray makes Springfield stops

Chicopee Mayor Michael Bissonnette (back row center) joined Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray in the taping of the public service message last week while Murray was appearing in Springfield. Reminder Publications photo by G. Michael Dobbs
By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD Lt. Governor Timothy Murray was all over Springfield on Tuesday.

At noon Murray was the keynote speaker for the fourth annual fall convocation of the Western New England College (WNEC) School of Law. He followed that appearance with the taping of a public service announcement to help recruit people for the Medical Reserve Corps at 1:30 p.m. on the steps of the George Walter Vincent Art Museum.

Murray is a 1994 graduate of the WNEC School of Law and he joked, "It's great to be back when I don't have to take an exam."

Murray was a substitute teacher and a homeless advocate when he came to the law school. Upon graduation he became a partner in the firm of Tattan, Leonard and Murray in Worcester. He ran for a seat on the Worcester City Council in 1997, became that city's mayor in 2001 and won the 2006 election as lieutenant governor.

He spoke of the culture of respect he found at the law school and the lessons of equality under the law that he learned there.

He also explained to the students they would undoubtedly be called in to defend people with whom they disagree.

"If the rights are diminished for any one person no matter how loathsome, the rights are diminished for everyone," he told the students.

He urged the students to become involved with the city of Springfield while they are at the school.

While Springfield has "had its ups and downs," Murray said, the city is "on the edge of a rebirth."

He noted the city's diversity and said, "The best training I've got for state-wide office and as a lawyer was growing up in a diverse community."

At the taping of the public service announcement, Murray proved to be a quick study.

Prior to his arrival, members of the Western Massachusetts Medical Reserve Corps (WMMRC) donned matching blue T-shirts and rehearsed the line "Be the response" several times.

Murray was joined in the commercial by Chicopee Mayor Michael Bissonnette and the president of the Springfield Museum Joseph Carvalho III.

Kathleen Conley Norbut, the coordinator of the Western Massachusetts Medical Reserve Corps, explained the public service announcement was part of marketing campaign to help recruit members into the volunteers organization during September.

According to the organization's Web site, the mission of the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is to establish teams of local volunteer medical and public health professionals who can contribute their skills and expertise throughout the year and during times of community need. These volunteers include medical and public health professionals such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, veterinarians and epidemiologists. Many community members interpreters, chaplains, office workers, legal advisors, and others can fill key support positions.

Conley Norbut said there are over 300 volunteers in the organization that includes the four western counties.

Much to the relief of the group standing in the hot sun, Murray fulfilled his role in just a few takes.