Kate Murray was elected Hempstead Town Clerk in November 2019. She had previously held the position of Town Clerk from 2002 to 2003 before becoming the first woman to serve as Hempstead Town Supervisor, a role she held until 2016.
When she became the first woman to be elected Supervisor in Hempstead Town's 371-year history, Murray was no stranger to shattering the glass ceiling and accomplishing a host of impressive "firsts" in her career. Before becoming Supervisor of America's largest township in 2003, she was the first woman and first attorney to be elected Hempstead Town Clerk. And on February 3, 1998, Kate Murray became the first woman and first Levittowner elected to the New York State Assembly from the 19thDistrict.
As Town Clerk, Murray introduced some of that office's most popular programs including the Town's "One-Stop Passport Shop," the convenience of issuing commuter parking permits at LIRR stations themselves, and accessibility of certain permits and licenses through the Town's website.
Town Clerk Murray's legacy here in Hempstead is undeniable, having instituted and completed construction of a $6 million multi-purpose center for members of the town's ANCHOR Program, which serves this special community in the town's family. The beachside building and the associated summer camp provides aquatic, athletic, computer, theatre, nutrition, and social programs. Her ecological agenda included the creation of a "green energy" park featuring solar, geothermal, hydrogen, and wind power as well as a one-of-a-kind solar-powered government office which draws no energy from the power grid, and emits zero pollutants. Her vision for renewable energy and green initiatives was heralded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Other priorities of Murray's administration included serving the golden age residents of our communities by providing them with recreation, nutrition, and social activities as well as offering affordable housing options for senior citizens, young workers, and families.
Before serving as an elected official, Murray worked as an Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Justice Section handling prisoner litigation. Prior to her work with the Attorney General, she served as an advocate for the Suffolk University Battered Women's Advocacy Project representing victims of domestic violence.
Following her former time at Hempstead Town, Murray continued to serve the residents of Nassau County as Vice President of Institutional Advancement for Nassau Community College from 2016-2019 and as Deputy County Clerk for Nassau County in 2019.
Town Clerk Murray has long been active in community organizations and politics. She is a member of the Nassau County Bar Association, Women's Bar Association, Levittown Historical Society, Levittown Kiwanis, Levittown Community Council, Levittown Property Owners Association, Friends of the Hofstra Arboretum, Irish-Americans in Government, and Sierra Club. Kate was on the Board of Directors of the Bellmore-Merrick Wellness Council. Ms. Murray is a sponsor of the Irish Repertory Theatre.
A graduate of Boston College and Suffolk University Law School, Town Clerk Murray is a lifelong resident of Levittown.
Responsibilities of Office
The Town Clerk's Office maintains Town Board records and publishes notices of public hearings. It records town ordinances, local laws, personnel actions, petitions, proof of publication, annual budgets, assessment rolls, fiscal reports, notice of liens, subpoena, and court actions, bond and note registers, zoning ordinances, and maps. As town registrar, the office keeps birth and death records, issues birth, death, and fetal certificates, burial permits, conducts genealogical searches, and issues marriage licenses and various permits. Additionally, the Town Clerk's office performs wedding ceremonies. The office processes applications for rezoning, public garages, modification of restrictive covenants, gasoline storage tanks, and GSS ordinances. The clerk is also the custodian of town records dating back to 1644 and maintains an inactive records center and historical archive.
