Before stepping down from the House of Delegates at year’s end, Del. Kathleen Murphy (D-McLean-Great Falls) accepted plaudits and a parting gift Dec. 21 from the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber president Paul Kohlenberger presented her with an engraved platter noting her public service to the McLean community and Virginia.
“You’ve always been responsive to us, to small-business owners,” Kohlenberger told Murphy, acknowledging her work on economic-development issues. “We’ve been very blessed here as a community, as a chamber, to have you with us.”
“I am going to miss it,” Murphy said of serving in the House of Delegates, where she was active on firearm-safety and female-veteran issues. “I think we have done some really incredible things.”
Murphy added that Gov. Youngkin will allow her to continue to serve on the Board of Veterans Services on behalf of women veterans.
“I’ll be able to stay involved, I just won’t be elected,” she said.
Murphy has been insistent on addressing issues and forged a strong working relationship with former Speaker Todd Gilbert (R-Woodstock), said Del. Marcus Simon (D-Falls Church).
“Kathleen has been outstanding,” Simon said. “She’s been a real mentor to me and a real help.”
Murphy credited Simon with helping other legislators on the floor by explaining bills and what would result from voting for them. Appreciative lawmakers subsequently named Simon parliamentarian.
“I thought he should have been speaker,” said Murphy.
“I’m not going to argue with you,” Simon joked.
