Rick Gray

Infobox_Mayor | Rick Gray


order=
office = Mayor of Lancaster, Pennsylvania
term_start=2005
term_end=
predecessor=Charlie Smithgall
successor=Incumbent
birth_date=
birth_place=Pottsville, Pennsylvania
alma_mater=American University
profession=Defense attorney
residence=Lancaster, Pennsylvania
spouse=Gail Gray
religion=
party=Democratic

J. Richard "Rick" Grayciteweb|url=http://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lancastercity/cwp/view.asp?A=672&Q=517632 | title=A Message from Mayor Gray | publisher=City of Lancaster website | accessdate=2008-10-02] has been mayor of Lancaster, Pennsylvania since 2005.

Personal life

Born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania his fathers profession took his family to Harrisburg at a young age, where he attended school and graduated High School. His father worked for a Telephone company, and his mother was an elementary school teacher. He attended American University, where he served as President of the Student Body.citeweb|url=http://www.lancasterpost.com/080725.pdf | title=Shades of Gray | publisher=Lancaster Post | accessdate=2008-10-02]

He is a noted Harley-Davidson enthusiast,citeweb|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-9226332.html | title=Mayor choice: Black and white or Gray | publisher=Highbeam.com | accessdate=2008-10-02] and has a collection of over 400 bowties, part of his trademark image.

Professional career

In July 2004 Gray was a highly regarded Defense attorney, and had formed an exploratory committee for his run for Mayor. He officially announced his candidacy on the front steps of his home on 12 February 2005, citing the cities rising financial deficit as an important issue he would fix.citeweb|url=http://www.wgal.com/politics/4194752/detail.html | title=Lawyer To Run For Lancaster Mayor | publisher=WGAL | accessdate=2008-10-02] At the 4 August, 2005 debate with incumbent Mayor Charlie Smithgall he continued to argue that the cities 4 million dollar deficit was the major issue, when his opponent (seeking a third term) claimed local crime as the most important priority.citeweb|url=http://www.wgal.com/news/5010407/detail.html | title=Mayoral Candidates Voice Different Priorities At Debate | publisher=WGAL | accessdate=2008-10-02]

Gray was sworn in on 3 January, 2006 stating his immediate goals for his new administration: "Job No. 1 is to get our fiscal house in order. Job No. 2 is to get the convention center straightened out. And No. 3, I think, is community policing."citeweb|url=http://www.wgal.com/news/5839159/detail.html# | title=Mayors Take Oaths, Lay Out Plans | publisher=WGAL | accessdate=2008-10-02]

In 2006 Mayor Gray proposed an ordinance to charge home owners a fee to have their satellite dish visible in the front of their house in the historic district of Lancaster, arguing it took away from the value of the districts historic look.citeweb|url=http://www.wgal.com/news/7844141/detail.html | title=Proposed Ordinance Targets Residents' Satellite Dishes | publisher=WGAL | accessdate=2008-10-02]

Mayor Gray endorsed Senator Barack Obama in March 2008 for the 2008 Democratic Presidential primaries.citeweb|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88689989 | title=Pa. Mayors' Primary Picks Transcend Race | publisher=NPR.org | accessdate=2008-10-02] Later that year he lost a bid to be an Obama delegate at the Democratic National Convention but still attended as his wife was selected to be a Pennsylvania delegate at large. The two both hating flying, decided to ride across country on their motorcycles.citeweb|url=http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/226036 | title=Grays' political odyssey leads to Denver | publisher=Lancaster Online | accessdate=2008-10-02]

In June of 2008, he was elected to be one of the Directors-at-Large of the Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities (PLCM).citeweb|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS171822+27-Jun-2008+PRN20080627 | title=Officers are Elected to Serve the PLCM | publisher=Reuters.com | accessdate=2008-10-02]

References

External links

* [http://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lancastercity/cwp/view.asp?A=672&Q=517632 Rick Gray Lancaster Mayor] official government website
* [http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/2005/Gray.asp AMA chairman elected mayor of Lancaster, Pennsylvania] "American Motorcyclist Association", November 9, 2005