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 |
Political party | Democratic |
Alma mater | George Washington University School of Law |
Occupation | Lawyer |
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]
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]
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]