Son is sworn in to finish what his dad had started

RUSSELLVILLE Grayson Murray was swornintoofficeonFriday morning as Franklin County commissioner for District 1.

Murray was appointed by Gov. Kay Ivey to fill the role left vacant after his father, Michael Murray, died on May 4.

“I decided I would really love to finish out my dad’s term,” Murray explained. “I decided I would at least put my name in the hat and give it a shot, and now I want to finish up what my dad started.”

Just 20 years old, Murray is a junior at the University of North Alabama, where he studies secondary education. Eventually, he hopes to teach social sciences.

Despite being the youngestFranklinCounty commissioner by decades, Murray is undaunted.

“I’m not worried about the age gap,” he said. “I know I can fulfill the role as well as anyone could.

“I want people to be free to share ideas with me, and I just really want to go into the role my dad had and continue with the same passion he had to improve the county.”

Murray said his dad was “the proudest” he had everseenhimwhenhewas elected to the commission in 2024. Michael Murray was sworn into office in November.

Because he only held the position for six months prior to his death, his son will serve approximately a year and a half in the appointed position.

Then, Murray will have to run in the general election if he wants to remain commissioner for the remainder of his father’s term.

However long he serves, he wants to fill the role the same way his father did.

When asked why he ran, Murray said that his dad replied: “I think I can do some good.”

“He wanted to come in and improve what Franklin County already has,” Murray said. “He always said, ‘This is a great place to live, but there’s always room for improvement.’

“No matter how long I sit in the role and perform this job, I just want to know I always did my best, thought through every decision, and made a positive impact.”