Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland last week tapped labor director and village mayor Richard Murray to serve as executive director of the Ohio School Facilities Commission, which issues bonds for school construction projects.
Murray was director of the Ohio Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust, which helps laborers and contractors get jobs. He is also the mayor of Marble Cliff village in Franklin County.
Murray takes the post as Ohio plans to spend $4.1 billion to build roughly 250 schools over the next two years, Strickland noted. The projects will be financed with proceeds from the state’s massive $5.5 billion tobacco bond sale in 2007.
“Rich recognizes that quality construction is critical for effective, safe learning environments for our students,” Strickland said. “His ability to handle complex labor and management issues and his background in the public and private sectors will be valuable experience as he takes on this new role.”
