Elected Officials

William J. Murphy

William J. Murphy is the Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, the highest-ranking position in the 75-member body of lawmakers. In January 2007, he was elected by his colleagues to serve a third two-year term as Speaker.

A Democrat who represents District 26 in portions of West Warwick, Coventry and Warwick, he was first elected to the House in 1992.

Under his leadership since 2003, the General Assembly has enacted Separation of Powers, pension and tax reforms, tougher drunken driving laws, a ban on smoking in public places, and numerous economic development initiatives.

Speaker Murphy also serves as chairman of the Joint Committee on Legislative Services, which oversees the operations of the General Assembly.

He is a partner in the Providence law firm of Murphy & Fay, L.L.P. He is an alumnus of West Warwick High School, the University of Hartford, and the Franklin Pierce Law Center.

Speaker Murphy, 44, and his wife, Stacey, live in West Warwick with their two sons.

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