Valparaiso Mayor Matt Murphy announced he will not be seeking reelection in 2023.
VALPARAISO — First-term Republican Mayor Matt Murphy will not seek re-election in 2023.
In a statement posted on the city’s website Wednesday afternoon, Murphy said he made the decision after his family’s small business, Jifco Products Inc., was acquired by Urschel Laboratories. Murphy said he was offered a position that will require his daily presence at the Urschel headquarters in Chesterton. Murphy will begin the new position in January of 2024.
Valparaiso Mayor Matt Murphy addresses what the city has planned in 2022.
“I will miss serving as mayor alongside an extraordinary group of men and women who made this ride so fun and enjoyable,” Murphy said in his announcement.
A lifelong Valparaiso resident and former city councilman, Murphy was elected in 2019 after longtime Mayor Jon Costas retired.
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He served as the city’s economic development director from 2007 to 2013 and as a member of the Redevelopment Commission and Board of Public Works and Safety under Costas. Before that, he was an inventory analyst at Mittal Steel.
Murphy said he intends to run for City Council in 2024.
“I want to be abundantly clear: my focus hasn’t changed now that I’ve made this announcement — we will continue full speed ahead to move our city forward in the new year as we have major projects happening all over Valparaiso,” Murphy said.
PHOTOS: Valparaiso City Hall mural a collaborative effort
City Hall mural is collaborative effort
Fiona Estridge, a kindergartner at Northview Elementary School, adds her touches to a mural painted by more than 4,000 artists.
City Hall mural is collaborative effort
Jessica Corral, a Flint Lake Elementary School art teacher, helps fellow artists add their touches to one of 16 panels of a mural to be permanently displayed at Valparaiso City Hall.
City Hall mural is collaborative effort
Valparaiso City Administrator Mike Jessen adds his touch to a mural featuring all of Valparaiso’s schools and some scenic sights in the city.
City Hall mural is collaborative effort
Jonathan Ray adds paint to one of the panels of a mural to be on permanent display at Valparaiso City Hall later this month.
City Hall mural is collaborative effort
Valparaiso Creative Council members Linda Eyermann and Megan Marolf and City Administrator Mike Jessen discuss the mural effort led by Flint Lake Elementary School art teacher Jessica Corral and sponsored by Urschel Laboratories, the John W. Anderson Foundation and the Valparaiso Creative Council.
City Hall mural is collaborative effort
An estimated 4,500 artists, from young children to adults, have contributed to the mural to be displayed at Valparaiso City Hall.
City Hall mural is collaborative effort
Kate Estridge, of Valparaiso, and her daughter Fiona Estridge help paint a mural to be displayed at Valparaiso City Hall.
City Hall mural is collaborative effort
Valparaiso City Administrator Mike Jessen and some of the key artists stand behind one panel of the collaborative effort to be on permanent display at City Hall. The unveiling is May 21.
