Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray will be resigning from his position in politics and will move into the private-sector to work for a local business group in Worchester, Mass., reports say.
According to The Boston Globe, Murray will officially leave his seat in the governor's office to assume his role - contingent on chamber approval - as president and CEO of Worchester Regional Chamber of Commerce, bumping his annual salary to over $200,000.
News of the new position broke after Murray announced he would not be running for governor in 2014 as was previously expected. At the time he said he wanted to spend more time with his family.
Many believe his new ventures are the result of having a difficult time grappling with low poll numbers and trouble rectifying his public image after a string of controversies over the years, including reports of a strange car crash that occurred in 2011.
Another issue tarnishing the reputation of the lieutenant governor was the bizarre handling of a situation connecting him to Chelsea Housing Authority Michael McLaughlin, who pleaded guilty to felony charges of concealing his salary.
Attorney General Martha Coakley has taken on the role of investigating the McLaughlin case on behalf of Murray.
According to WCVB, Murray was approached by the company's chamber, not the other way around, and decided to follow the opportunity because it would be good for him and his family.
Currently, the state's bill of rights has no protocol in place for situations such as this in terms of appointing a replacement, so in the event Murray does successfully resign and assumes the position in the new business, his traditional duties will be absorbed by the other members of Gov. Deval Patrick's office.
"People are really happy for him, it's a good job for him, but it's going to leave a big hole in the administration," one senior administration official said.
