After six years on the job, Betty Murphy will retire as chairwoman of the Blaine County Democratic Party following the inauguration of President Elect Barack Obama.
During her tenure the organization's presence has grown. Last February, Murphy organized the Blaine County Democratic presidential caucus to choose delegates for the state Democratic convention. It was the first time the Democratic county caucuses in Idaho were held on Super Tuesday, rather than later in the primary season.
"It's been a long six years," she said.
The first big campaign she worked on, as chairwoman, was in 2004 when John Kerry ran for president.
"That was really exciting because he was a hometown boy and lots of press came in," she said.
Murphy organized a concert and gathering featuring Carole King and Teresa Heinz Kerry at Warm Springs Lodge, attended by about 800 people.
When Allen Blinken ran for U.S. senator in 2002, Murphy organized a luncheon attended by 600 people at the Blinken's Ketchum home.
"Another highlight for me personally was that I was elected to two terms to the Idaho Democrat executive board," she said. "It's basically a planning committee. Another was this summer working with my precinct captains to choose our nominees for county government to send to the governor."
In 2008, the Blaine County Democrats rented a building in Hailey to use as its headquarters for three months during the election. There, an open house and potluck were held for each debate.
The Blaine County Democrats registered about 8,000 people this year. Murphy and her precinct captains began organizing for the February caucus the previous summer. Some 1,200 people crammed into the Community Campus.
Another highlight for Murphy was winning first place in the float category in the Wagon Days Parade, several years in a row.
"We got our people re-elected and we got Obama in. That is the big highlight," she said. "I plan to stay active and will remain a precinct person and on the executive board of the state."
Ketchum residents Sally Donart and Jima Rice preceded Murphy as head of the local Democratic Party.
The Blaine County Democrats will hold a regular business meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 13, at 5 p.m. where they'll elect new officers, including a chairman to take Murphy's place.
The meeting will be held at the Ketchum-Sun Valley Ski Museum, in the Forest Service Park. The meeting is open to the public. For more information on the elections, the local inaugural celebration or the meeting, call Murphy at 726-6423.
Betty Murphy
