John L. Ray

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

John L. Ray
Member of the Council of the District of Columbia At-large
In office
January 8, 1979 – January 2, 1997
Preceded byMarion Barry
Succeeded byHarold Brazil
Personal details
Born (1943-05-16) May 16, 1943
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materGeorge Washington University School of Law
OccupationLawyer

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 clerked for D.C. Circuit Judge 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]

Ray worked for the United States Department of Justice from 1977 until 1978.[10] By law, councilmembers other than the chairman are allowed to hold other employment.[11] Ray was Of Counsel to the law firm Baker & Hostetler from 1988 to 1994.[10] He joined Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in 1995 and has worked there since.[10][3]

References
  1. "John Ray (D-At Large)". The Washington Post. 1996. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
  2. 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. 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. 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.
  10. "Ray, John L". OpenSecrets.
  11. 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.



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