Vincent C. Gray

Vincent Gray
7th Mayor of the District of Columbia
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 2, 2011
Preceded by	Adrian Fenty
7th Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia
In office January 3, 2007 – January 2, 2011
Preceded by	Linda Cropp
Succeeded by	Kwame Brown
Member of the Council of the District of Columbia from Ward 7
In office January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2007
Preceded by	Kevin Chavous
Succeeded by	Yvette Alexander
Born	November 8, 1942 (age 68)
Political party	Democratic Party
Alma mater	George Washington University
Religion	Roman Catholic

Vincent C. Gray (born November 8, 1942^[1]) is an American politician who is currently serving as the seventh Mayor of the District of Columbia.^[2] Prior to his inauguration as mayor in January 2011, Gray served as Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia, and as Councilmember for Ward 7. In the 1990s he also served as director of the DC Department of Human Services.

Early life and education

Gray is a native of Washington, DC,^[3] and graduated from Dunbar High School.^[4] He earned a B.A. in psychology at George Washington University,^[5] where he also took graduate courses. Gray was one of the first African Americans to join the Jewish fraternity, Tau Epsilon Phi.^[6] While in the fraternity, he was the first to serve two consecutive terms as President. Other school activities included the Newman Club, as well as football and basketball intramurals.^[7] Gray is also an avid participant in hand dancing, a D.C.-area derivative of Lindy hop.^[8]

Pre-council career

Gray began his political career with the D.C. Association for Retarded Citizens, where he successfully advocated for innovative public policy initiatives on behalf of people with mental retardation.^[3] In 1991, then Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly appointed Gray to the post of Director of the DC Department of Human Services.^[3][4]

Gray became the founding executive director of Covenant House Washington in December 1994.^[3][4] Over a decade, Gray grew the agency from a van outreach program to a multisite agency serving homeless youth in the city's Southeast and Northeast communities.

Council of the District of Columbia

In the September 2004 primary election, Gray defeated Kevin P. Chavous, the incumbent Ward 7 member of the Council of the District of Columbia, and went on to win the November general election with 91% of the vote.^[3] He was sworn in as a member of the council on January 2, 2005,^[3] and was a member of the council's Committees on Health; Economic Development; Human Services; and Education, Libraries and Recreation. Chairman Linda W. Cropp also appointed him to chair a Special Committee on Prevention of Youth Violence.

In 2006, when Cropp decided not to run for another term as chairman but to run for mayor instead, Gray ran for chairman.^[9] He defeated his council colleague Kathleen Patterson in the Democratic primary,^[10] 57% to 43%,^[11] and then won the general election unopposed.^[12] Gray ran his campaign under the banner "One City" and focused on unity among the disparate racial and economic groups in Washington, D.C.^[13]

In 2008, Gray successfully led his Council colleagues in passing the "Pre-K Enhancement and Expansion Act of 2008",^[3] a program to provide universal pre-kindergarten to every three- and four-year-old in the District of Columbia by 2014, to increase early intervention and enhancement services for student success.

2010 Campaign for Mayor

Gray formally entered the race for Mayor of the District of Columbia on March 30, 2010.^[14] His campaign adopted the slogan, commonly used during his time as Council Chairman, "One City. Leadership We Need".^[15] A Washington Post poll conducted in January 2010 showed Gray leading the incumbent mayor, Adrian Fenty, 38 percent to 31 percent among voters who are "certain" to participate in the September 14th Democratic Primary.^[16] The Washington Post noted that the poll's results are an indication of voters' disapproval of Fenty, rather than approval of Gray, because 36 percent of registered Democrats have no opinion of Gray.^[16] An August Washington Post poll found Gray with a 17-point advantage among likely voters and a 13-point lead among Democratic voters.^[17] It was reported early Wednesday morning on September 15, 2010 that Gray defeated Fenty in the primary election.^[18] Gray defeated Fenty by a 54 to 44 percent margin.^[19]

Mayorship

In order to save the District $19 million, Gray proposed to furlough most District employees. including teachers.^[20] Workers would not be paid on four holidays, namely President's Day, Emancipation Day, Memorial Day, and Independence Day.^[20] The District Council voted in favor of the idea as part of a plan to save over $19 million for the District.^[21][22]

In response to a proposal by Congress to restart a school voucher program in the District, Gray said he was against the idea.^[23]

Family

Gray has two children, Jonice Gray Tucker and Vincent Carlos Gray, and two grandchildren, Austin Gray Tucker and Jillian Gray Tucker.^[1] Gray's wife Loretta died in July 1998.^[3] Gray currently lives in the Hillcrest neighborhood of Ward 7.^[3] Gray is a Roman Catholic.^[24]

References

External links

• Official DC Government website of Council Chairman Gray
• Vincent Gray for Mayor 2010

Council of the District of Columbia
Preceded by Kevin Chavous	Member of the Council of the District of Columbia from Ward 7 2005–2007	Succeeded by Yvette Alexander
Preceded by Linda Cropp	Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia 2007–2011	Succeeded by Kwame Brown
Political offices
Preceded by Adrian Fenty	Mayor of the District of Columbia 2011–present	Incumbent