By Kenneth Miller, Publisher
The County of Los Angeles has certified West Basin Board member and longtime Inglewood resident Gloria Gray’s resounding election victory for Inglewood District 1 Council Seat, clearing the way for the former school board member to become the second Black woman on the male dominated Inglewood City Council.
Inglewood City Clerk Aisha Thompson received the L.A. County’s certification on March 17 affirming Gray’s landside win toppling incumbent George Dotson with 1,902 votes to 976 for a rousing 66.09 percent of the votes.
All that remains is for the Inglewood City Council to ratify the election and that will take place in council chambers on April 4 when Gray will be sworn in immediately thereafter.
Gray who has been respectful of the process throughout has maintained that she will not make any statements until she is sworn in, which is likely to take place at a public community event following her official ceremony.
Her first day as the newest council member will be on April 10.
After surviving a hotly contest general election that featured a field of seven, Gray advanced to the runoff by edging out community activist Yolanda Davidson by a mere 20 votes, 1,661 to 1,641 according to the City Clerk’s final tabulations.
Dotson survived until the runoff by capturing 30 percent of the in the Nov. general election with 2,230 votes.
Powerful Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, Jr. endorsed Dotson during the general but stayed out of the runoff, saying privately that he would welcome Gray to City Hall.
Dotson sat on the council since 2013.
A 30 year resident, Gray campaigned on bringing transparency to city hall and vowed to fight to preserve quality of life, safe communities and prosperity.
She brings a wealth of experience to the district as a former healthcare administrator, school board member, and former Water Board Director in addition to having strong allies throughout the state of California.
Gray has served on the water board for 16 years and her term does not expire until 2026.
