Meet Your Mayor: Tim Radford
Serving the Town of Murphy since December 2021
“I do not look at this as a political job. It is community service. I have always loved helping people and solving problems, and that is what I am here to do.”
One of the most important priorities for our town team has been finding ways to build a better Murphy while reducing the financial burden on our neighbors. By focusing on outside support and competitive grants, the town has been able to pursue major, long overdue projects without relying entirely on local property taxes to foot the bill.
If you see Tim Radford around town, he is usually just trying to be useful. Whether he is running our local radio station, volunteering, or serving as Mayor, he looks at every role as a way to support his hometown.
Tim is the first to tell anyone that running a town is a true team effort. Since taking office, his focus has been on working side by side with Town Council, our dedicated town staff, local businesses, and residents to find practical, common sense solutions that make everyday life a little better for everyone in Murphy.
Tied to This Community
Tim’s roots in Murphy run deep. After graduating from Murphy High School in 1991, he attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to study Radio, Television, and Motion Pictures. While there, working for Capitol Broadcasting Company, he gained hands on experience engineering and producing broadcasts for the Duke Radio Network and the American Speed Association Radio Network.
In 1995, his love for home brought him back to Murphy to buy WKRK, the very station where he got his start as a high school student. For more than 30 years, he has used that local platform to highlight the good things happening in Cherokee County.
Long before serving in office, Tim spent decades helping where he could through local civic boards and organizations, including the Rotary Club of Murphy, where he served as President, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Four Square Community Action, Reach of Cherokee County, and the North Carolina Community Foundation. He is also active in Rotary District 7670, where he has served as an Assistant Governor and Public Image Chair.
He was honored when the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce named him Citizen of the Year in 2019, though he will tell you he was only one part of a much larger group of people doing good work.
Big Wins for Murphy
Any progress Murphy has seen lately belongs to our community working together. With the help of Town Council, town staff, local partners, residents, and state and federal leaders, Murphy has focused on practical improvements that strengthen the town and support its future.
These are only a few of the many highlights made possible through teamwork, planning, and strong community partnerships.
Water and Infrastructure: Helping secure outside funding to replace aging downtown waterlines, upgrade the Ice Plant Lift Station, improve water and sewer systems, and move forward with long term wastewater plant improvements.
Downtown Spaces: Working together to build the new Town Square and Center Stage, improve downtown streets and pedestrian access, and help Murphy earn its official North Carolina Main Street Community designation.
Workforce Housing: Supporting the public private partnership behind Valley River Apartments to bring 56 affordable housing units to local working families.
Public Safety: Moving the Murphy Police Department into a new facility with more space, modern technology, and better resources to support officers and serve the public. Murphy has also strengthened local fire protection through 24 hour coverage, a FEMA funded tanker truck, and continued efforts to provide first responders with the equipment they need.
Parks and Recreation: Securing support for Riverwalk enhancements and future outdoor recreation opportunities that will benefit residents and visitors.
Youth Mentorship: Creating the Mayor’s Rising Stars program to give local students a hands on look at community service, leadership, and civic engagement.
Representing Us Regionally
To make sure a small town like Murphy has a voice where big decisions are made, Tim serves on several regional and state boards. It is one more way to help ensure Murphy always has a seat at the table.
His current service roles include:
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Chairman, Southwestern Commission Council of Governments
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Vice President, North Carolina Mayors Association
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Board Member, North Carolina League of Municipalities
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Board Member, Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce and Murphy Main Street
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Secretary, Association of Tennessee Valley Governments
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Secretary, North Carolina Association of Regional Councils of Governments Forum
Tim also previously served as a Gubernatorial Appointee to the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and as Vice President of Public Image for The CART Fund.
“The good things happening in Murphy are not because of one person. They happen because neighbors choose to work together toward common goals. It is an honor to be a small part of this team.”