John L. Ray

John L. Ray (born May 16, 1943[1]) is a lawyer and Democratic politician in Washington, D.C.

Ray was an at-large member of the Council of the District of Columbia from 1979 to 1997.[2] Ray is a partner and member of the board of directors at the law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips.[3]

Early life

Raised in Tom Creek, Georgia, Ray graduated from George Washington University School of Law.[4] While a law school student, Ray interned at Abe Fortas' law firm.[4] After graduating from law school, Ray worked as a law clerk for Spottswood William Robinson III.[4]

Political career

On January 8, 1979, Ray was appointed by the District of Columbia Democratic State Committee to the at-large council seat vacated by Marion Barry, who had been sworn in as mayor a few days earlier.[5] He was Barry's chosen successor. Ray went on to win the May 1 special election handily[6] and then to be reelected in 1980, 1984, 1988, and 1992.[2]

Following Council Chairman John A. Wilson's suicide in May 1993, the council chose Ray to be acting chairman.[7] Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly had backed another at-large council member, Linda Cropp, for the appointment and thought she had lined up the votes on the council, but Charlene Drew Jarvis switched her vote to Ray[8] because she intended to run for chairman in the special election and viewed Cropp as a threat.[7] Ray served as acting chairman until the special election on September 14, which was won by former chairman David A. Clarke.[9] Ray finished his term as at-large member, but he did not run for reelection in 1996.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "John Ray (D-At Large)". The Washington Post. 1996. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
  2. 1 2 3 District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. "Historical Elected Officials: At-Large Member of the Council of the District of Columbia". Archived from the original on 2008-07-23. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
  3. ↑ "John L. Ray: Biography". Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
  4. 1 2 3 Coleman, Milton; Bredemeier, Kenneth (May 2, 1979). "Mayor's Choice, John Ray, Wins City Council Seat: Ray Defeats Moore, 9 Others to Win Council Seat". The Washington Post. p. A1.
  5. ↑ Coleman, Milton (1979-01-09). "Party Unit Picks Ray on 6th Ballot For Council Seat". The Washington Post. p. C1. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
  6. ↑ Coleman, Milton; Bredemeier, Kenneth (1979-05-02). "Mayor's Choice, John Ray, Wins City Council Seat". The Washington Post. p. A1. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
  7. 1 2 Sanchez, Rene; Henderson, Nell (1993-05-25). "D.C. Council Set to Select Ray as Interim Chairman; Cropp, Mayor's Pick, Bows to One of Kelly's Main Critics". The Washington Post. p. C01. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
  8. ↑ Ragland, James (1993-05-26). "The Price of a Power Play Gone Awry; Attempt to Secure Interim Council Post for Cropp Puts Mayor in Awkward Position". The Washington Post. p. D01. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
  9. ↑ District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. "Historical Elected Officials: Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia". Archived from the original on 2008-07-23. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
Council of the District of Columbia
Preceded by
Marion Barry		 At-Large Member, Council of the District of Columbia
1979–1997 		Succeeded by
Harold Brazil
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