But it would be inaccurate to call it a close personal relationship. The mayor of the seventh-largest city in the United States brings his lunch to work in a brown paper bag. His wife, Jan, sees to it that he gets a turkey sandwich, a little green salad and nonfat milk. Jan does not, confirms Murphy, write Mayor on the brown paper bag. The unmarked bag is usually opened and its contents consumed at Murphy s desk.
Lunch is the time of day when mayoral staff has a chance to corner the boss.
I went out to lunch a lot when I first got elected, Murphy says. Now, I might go out to lunch about once a week. Afternoons are filled with private appointments. A great many people want the mayor s ear. Appointments may be with city staff, but most are with nonstaff.