Yellow Labrador Apple Jack is sworn in as Murphy Fire Rescue’s new service dog. Bob Wieland/Murphy Monitor

Murphy got a new city manager in 2024 as Aretha Adams joined the city from a similar position she had held since 2019 in Heath. She took over from Interim City Manager Allen Barnes, who came on board following the resignation of Mike Castro in August 2023. 

Assistant City Manager Jared Mayfield was promoted from director of community and economic development and was succeeded by Reagan Rothenberger, a former Murphy city planner most recently with the city of Southlake.

The city also hired Carter Smith as information technology director. He formerly handled IT for the city of Heath.

City Secretary Kandi Jackson officially succeeded Susie Quinn upon her retirement from the job she had held for 14 years.

Before that, Quinn worked for the Wylie ISD Education Foundation and for the cities of Rowlett, Azle, Tye, Eastland and Ector County. 

Interim Police Chief Jeff Gibson spent just two months on the job before Adams decided to make his position permanent. He had been hired in December as a temporary successor to Chief Chris Chandler, who departed to become chief in Fairview.

Gibson spent nearly 24 years with the Bedford Police Department, including five years as chief. That was followed by three years as chief in Gunter, where he also served as interim city manager/director of public safety. 

Council re-appointed the city’s three municipal judges, granting two-year contracts for Presiding Judge Robert Callaway, Associate Municipal Judge Ashley McSwain and Associate Municipal Judge Dana Huffman.

In other city business, councilmembers adopted next year’s budget, cut the property tax rate and raised fees for residential and commercial water service.

City Finance Director Berna Fitzpatrick-Walker said the Fiscal Year 2025 budget is 9.5% higher than this year’s, for a total of $57.5 million. The property tax dropped about a nickel to 36 cents per $100 valuation. 

Although the average market value of homes in Murphy increased 6.3% to $620,000 in 2024, the lower tax rate will result in a 5.6% decrease in the property tax bill on an average home, or a $132 saving on a total average bill of $2,246.

Effective in October, monthly residential water and sewer bills increased about 4%.

Council also approved construction of the Islamic Association of Murphy Masjid [mosque] on 3.5 acres near the northeast corner of North Murphy Road and McMillen Road.

There were no Murphy council elections in 2024, but voters re-elected a congressman, a state senator, two Texas House members and a member of the State Board of Education (SBOE).

U.S. Rep. Keith Self, R-McKinney, bested four opponents in the GOP primary and then won a second term by defeating Democratic candidate Sandeep Srivasta in the Nov. 5 balloting.

Self stayed busy in the 3rd Congressional District, attending local meetings, events and ceremonies. 

He hosted “Koffee with Keith” updates for constituents and a forum on border security. A West Point graduate, Self conducted a seminar for students interested in attending service academies. In June, he commemorated the D-Day anniversary by parachuting into France with other veterans in the U.S. House.

In elections for the Texas Legislature, Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, was re-elected in District 8.

Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, survived primary and general election contests in District 67, as did Rep. Candy Noble, R-Lucas, in District 89.

SBOE Dist. 12 member Pam Little won a primary runoff and went on to beat former Plano East Senior High School Principal George King in November.

Last but not least, Murphy Fire-Rescue added a new member in April as yellow Labrador “Apple Jack” became a service dog based at the fire station.

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