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With Murray out of the running, future Gov. remains unclear

Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray announced Thursday that he will not be running for the position of Massachusetts governor in 2014 despite previous speculation, and other possible contenders remain hesitant to put their name in the running.

Murray’s spokesman, Scott Ferson, said that Murray made the decision with his family in recent weeks.

“He had been discussing it [running for governor] with his wife before the holidays,” he said.  “They came to the decision not to run late last week.”

Murray has been in public office for more than 15 years and has previously taken part in statewide elections.

“For him, he had run statewide twice, so he understood what would be involved from a political stance,” Ferson said.

Murray has two daughters, ages six and seven, who contributed to his decision against running in the long-term, statewide campaign, Ferson said.

“He and his wife came to the conclusion that both of them, having full-time jobs, and them managing their young and then adding a component to that of running a full-time campaign — which would really be a 20-month campaign — would really be too much of a struggle,” Ferson said.

Murray has two years remaining to serve alongside Gov. Deval Patrick before he will complete this term in its entirety, Ferson said.

Murray has no plans for the future beyond his present term, Ferson said.

“He will not be a candidate for any office in 2014,” Ferson said. “He has not thought beyond that.”

Patrick has already announced that he is not planning on running for re-election as governor, Ferson said, but he had supported Murray’s plan to campaign for the position.

“Governor Patrick supported the lieutenant governor running for office,” Ferson said.

On Wednesday at a press conference in Worcester, Patrick commented on Murray’s decision to step down from the race.

“Because I so respect his judgment, his love for his family and his maturity in many respects in putting his family above his political ambitions, I have mixed feelings,” Patrick said. “Because, had the lieutenant governor decided to be a candidate in the coming election, I was all in — all in.”

Murray was elected in 2006 when he won the position while campaigning with Patrick. Murray has also served on the Worcester City Council and as Mayor of Worcester, according to his website.

Murray’s decision to not enter the 2014 gubernatorial race leaves room for a number of other candidates to decide to campaign for the position.

One potential candidate is State Treasurer Steve Grossman. The treasurer has no official campaign plans as of now, but he did release a statement in response to Murray’s decision to leave the race.

“I respect Tim Murray’s deep commitment to focus first and foremost on his family responsibilities,” Grossman said in the statement. “I join the people of Massachusetts in expressing our profound appreciation for his many years of effective service to the Commonwealth during a time of economic uncertainty.”

Another potential candidate for the governor race in two years is Attorney General Martha Coakley.

Coakley released a statement addressing the possibility of her running for governor.

“Races are expensive,” she said in a statement in November. “They are tough. They are hard. If I do get into a race, I am going to do it with 150 percent, but that is a personal decision I will make.”

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