John L. Ray

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

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.[4] He was Barry's chosen successor. Ray went on to win the May 1 special election handily[5] and then to be reelected in 1980, 1984, 1988, and 1992.[2]

When council chairman John A. Wilson killed himself in May 1993, the council chose Ray to be acting chairman.[6] 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[7] because she intended to run for chairman in the special election and viewed Cropp as a threat.[6] Ray served as acting chairman until the special election on September 14, which was won by former chairman David A. Clarke.[8] Ray finished his term as at-large member but did not run for reelection in 1996.[2]

References

  1. ^ "John Ray (D-At Large)". The Washington Post. 1996. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/counties/dc/longterm/bios/ray.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-26. 
  2. ^ a b c 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. http://web.archive.org/web/20080723225241/http://www.dcboee.org/information/eo_index/history/AT_LARGE.shtm. Retrieved 2008-07-26. 
  3. ^ "John L. Ray: Biography". Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP. http://www.manatt.com/Attorneys.aspx?id=125&full=36. Retrieved 2008-07-26. 
  4. ^ Coleman, Milton (1979-01-09). "Party Unit Picks Ray on 6th Ballot For Council Seat". The Washington Post: p. C1. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/142329472.html?FMT=ABS. Retrieved 2008-07-26. 
  5. ^ Coleman, Milton; Bredemeier, Kenneth (1979-05-02). "Mayor's Choice, John Ray, Wins City Council Seat". The Washington Post: p. A1. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/131777572.html?FMT=ABS. Retrieved 2008-07-26. 
  6. ^ a b 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. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/72151543.html?FMT=ABS. Retrieved 2008-07-26. 
  7. ^ 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. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/72153204.html?FMT=ABS. Retrieved 2008-07-26. 
  8. ^ 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. http://web.archive.org/web/20080723225228/http://www.dcboee.org/information/eo_index/history/CHAIRMAN.shtm. 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