New chief clerk relishes role as ‘creature of the institution’

Strong voice. Well versed. Impartial. Continuity. These are words House members used to describe Patrick Murphy, a lifelong St. Paul resident, who — via unanimous vote on Jan. 6 — was elected the 31st chief clerk in the history of Minnesota House, and just the fourth since 1945.

Luck. Timing. These are the descriptors Murphy chooses to sum up how he found employment in the chief clerk’s office 36 years ago, his first job upon graduation from the University of St. Thomas.

A self-professed news junkie, Murphy was drawn to a Capitol career after an internship with the Office of the Secretary of State while he was a journalism major in college. As graduation neared in 1978, Murphy threw his hat in the ring for a House page position.

“I remember sitting down for the interview, and what’s the first question they ask me?” Murphy recalled. “‘Who is your representative?’ Well, I didn’t know the answer. The interview lasted five minutes. They said, ‘It was great to meet you, Pat. Thank you for applying, currently all the positions are full, but we will keep you on file and call you if something changes.’”

Two weeks later Murphy received a call from the chief clerk’s office about another page position that had opened. The second-chance interview led to his first real job — working at the front desk and interacting with the public.

“I would say that’s probably the best thing that has ever happened to me, because here I am 36 years later. I’ve never been directly involved in (partisan) politics, but I get to be in the middle of the action; I get to help out folks from all stripes – elected members, members of the public – with this amazing legislative process.”

Providing stability, parliamentarian skills

Rep. Phyllis Kahn (DFL-Mpls) is one of the few members who knows what it’s like to work on a House Floor without the aid of Murphy. The 22-term legislator said Murphy is a natural fit to lead the nonpartisan outfit that aids members, many of whom are new to legislative experience.

“Patrick has such a strong voice — he sounds like he has belonged there all his life,” Kahn said. “And he has been here a long time. It’s an office that has thrived on its continuity, which is wonderful for the institution.”

Murphy was promoted to House Journal editor in 1981, and served as first assistant chief clerk for the past decade. He admits to having a seemingly contradictory love of public affairs and the legislative process without any interest in the partisan nuances of politics that is often the nature of public policy making.

“We really are creatures of the institution,” Murphy, 59, said of the chief clerk’s office staff. “Speakers come, speakers go. Majorities come, majorities go. I have worked for nine different majorities, 14 different speakers. That’s our main mission — to provide stability, not only for members but also for the public.”

Chief Clerk Patrick Murphy on the House Floor. House Photography file photo

In addition to helping members and the public navigate the procedural aspects of lawmaking, the chief clerk’s office has been rock-steady in maintaining its nonpartisan professionalism, said Rep. Greg Davids (R-Preston).

“I’ve been here for Ed Burdick (who served as chief clerk from 1967-2004) and Al Mathiowetz (2005-2014) and now Patrick Murphy. The character trait that has run through each of them is that you cannot tell if they are Republican or Democrat. That’s a very valuable asset to the House Floor.”

Murphy is also a skilled parliamentarian on the House Floor, said Mathiowetz, who retired from the position Jan. 5.

“We sat down almost every day before session and we'd go over everything, every possibility,” Mathiowetz said. “I think that helped him out a lot just listening to how I would think, and then he'd do the same. He will enjoy it. I think he’s going to be an excellent chief clerk.”

Hometown guy

Murphy, whose grandfather and father were born just up the road from the Capitol on St. Paul’s Rice and Front streets, grew up near Macalester College. He now lives in the Como Park neighborhood with his family, wife Dawn Squillace, and son Jorge, 17. Sports (baseball and, lately, watching Jorge box at a local gym) are an important family distraction from the long office hours during session, he said.

“Working in this place, striving for a balance in work and home life, that’s important,” he said. “I’ve always tried to do that. I love living and working in my hometown. It’s something I take pride in.”