John L. Ray
John L. Ray | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Council of the District of Columbia At-large | |
| In office January 8, 1979 – January 2, 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Marion Barry |
| Succeeded by | Harold Brazil |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 16, 1943 Toms Creek, Echols County, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | April 2025 (aged 81) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | George Washington University School of Law |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
John Lamar Ray (May 16, 1943 – April 2025) was 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.[1] Ray was a partner and member of the board of directors at the law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips.[2]
Early life
[edit]Ray was born on May 16, 1943 and raised in Toms Creek, Georgia.[3][4] He graduated from George Washington University School of Law in 1973.[3][5] While a law school student, Ray interned at Abe Fortas' law firm.[5] After graduating from law school, Ray clerked for D.C. Circuit Judge Spottswood William Robinson III.[5]
Political career
[edit]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.[6] He was Barry's chosen successor. Ray went on to win the May 1 special election handily[7] and then to be reelected in 1980, 1984, 1988, and 1992.[1]
Following Council Chairman John A. Wilson's suicide in May 1993, the council chose Ray to be acting chairman.[8] 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[9] because she intended to run for chairman in the special election and viewed Cropp as a threat.[8] Ray served as acting chairman until the special election on September 14, which was won by former chairman David A. Clarke.[10] Ray finished his term as at-large member, but he did not run for reelection in 1996.[1]
Legal career
[edit]Ray worked for the United States Department of Justice from 1977 until 1978.[11] By law, councilmembers other than the chairman are allowed to hold other employment.[12] Ray was Of Counsel to the law firm Baker & Hostetler from 1988 to 1994.[11] He joined Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in 1995 and worked there since.[11][2]
Death
[edit]On April 15, 2025, the Council of the District of Columbia announced that Ray had died at the age of 81.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ 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. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
- ^ a b "John L. Ray: Biography". Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
- ^ a b Smith, Harrison (April 17, 2025). "John Ray, veteran D.C. lawmaker and frequent mayoral candidate, dies at 81". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ^ "John Ray (D-At Large)". The Washington Post. 1996. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ Coleman, Milton (1979-01-09). "Party Unit Picks Ray on 6th Ballot For Council Seat". The Washington Post. p. C1. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
- ^ Coleman, Milton; Bredemeier, Kenneth (1979-05-02). "Mayor's Choice, John Ray, Wins City Council Seat". The Washington Post. p. A1. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
- ^ 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. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
- ^ 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. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c "Ray, John L". OpenSecrets.
- ^ Martin Austermuhle (April 2, 2019). "After Ethics Scandal, D.C. Council Could Nix Lawmakers' Second Jobs". DCist. WAMU. Archived from the original on December 18, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
- ^ Washington D.C. Mourns the Loss of Former Councilmember John Ray, Remembering His Enduring Legacy
External links
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