It has been a whirlwind week for NY-27 Congressional candidate Nate McMurray. On Sunday, the Grand Island Town Supervisor announced his candidacy to a standing-room-only crowd of more than 200 at the Brickyard Brewing Company in Lewiston. Voters from throughout the District came to support Nate’s effort to unseat ethics-challenged incumbent, Chris Collins.
Supporters, including City of Tonawanda Mayor Rick Davis, are confident that a Congressmember McMurray will remain connected to the people he serves.
“Nate will bring the perspective of the average American to his representation of the 27th District," Davis said. "Far too often people elected to Congress are well off financially and they do not think of the many struggling households we have in our area. Nate will be the voice those families need in Congress.”
After his announcement, Candidate McMurray wasted no time introducing himself to voters from Canandaigua to Batavia to Wheatfield. On Tuesday night he stood out among the five congressional hopefuls at the Turn NY 27 Blue Candidates Forum in Lancaster.
Dorothy Avery, a voter from the Town of Bergen, was “impressed with Nate’s creativity and strong ethical values. I’m confident he will represent all of NY27’s voters without regard for party affiliation or tax bracket.”
Who is Nate McMurray?
Nate is one of seven children raised in the District by his widowed mother in conditions of extreme poverty. His mother laid a good ethical foundation in her home, but was stretched to the limit by the demands of putting food on the family’s table and caring for her children.
With the help of New York’s public education system and public scholarship programs, Nate become a Fulbright Scholar, received advanced degrees including a law degree, and became fluent in Korean and Chinese. He spent time overseas and has had a successful business career. He missed Western New York so he returned home.
He is married and the proud father of two boys, and in addition to being Grand Island supervisor, he is vice president for Development for Delaware North.
Nate’s family instilled strong community service values. He was first called to run for elected office when he witnessed dismissive behavior on the part of government officials at a board hearing. Nate fought for the side of right and he was elected Grand Island town supervisor by only two votes!
In so doing McMurray became the only Democrat to be elected to office on the deeply Republican island in recent memory. He achieved this benchmark by reaching out to Republicans and treating all people, regardless of party affiliation or economic stature, with dignity and respect. His heartfelt capacity to connect with voters, and his ability to get the job done, will be a welcome change from the scandal-plagued and elitist tenure of Congressmember Collins.
James Sharpe, Grand Island Democratic party chair and town deputy supervisor, has worked with McMurray for years.
“Nathan is one of the most creative people I know," Sharpe said. "He is focused and energized and keeps the needs of his constituents front and center. He solves problems that confound others.
"He has a knack for identifying the issues and getting the job done. New York State’s agreement to remove toll barriers and give Grand Island cashless tolls is only one example.”
McMurray will provide true representation to the people of NY-27. He will work to make sure that all children have the advantages that were provided to him when he grew up in the District.
