Former D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray publicly kicked off his next campaign on Saturday and stepped back into the crucible of city politics, seeking a position on the D.C. City Council.
After losing in the primary to current D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Gray has joined the field of candidates vying for the Ward 7 seat on the city council.
"I've always been a public servant and I love doing things for and with people,” he said during the launch of his campaign. “Obviously, I wanted to continue to do it previously."
Kicking off his campaign at The House of Praise on the ward's eastern border, he touched upon the investigation into financial malfeasance and a "shadow campaign" during his successful mayoral bid in 2010. He'd acknowledged it wasn't the kind of campaign he'd intended to run but also noted that he was never charged.
Twelve people pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the investigation, which uncovered evidence of more than $3.3 million in illegal contributions to various campaigns between 2006 and 2011.
According to a Dec. 9, 2015, press release from the United States Attorney's Office, "A total of 12 people pled guilty to charges in the investigation, including seven who pled guilty to offenses directly involving or connected to the 2010 District of Columbia mayoral election."
One of those defendants, businessman Jeffrey Thompson, admitted to setting up an illegal $660,000 slush fund that aided Gray's campaign.
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"I have moved forward. While I've moving forward, I won't forget what happened because I don't want it to happen to somebody else," Ward said.
Yvette Alexander is the current Ward 7 representative, and she's running for re-election.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't shocked about it, but, you know, it is what it is," Alexander said.
Both candidates acknowledged that they've yet to talk. Gray sees no issue with trying to defeat a one-time ally.
He enters a field with others who do not enjoy his degree of name recognition.
A third candidate was out Saturday, going door to door in his election bid.
“They clump both of them together, and it's an opportunity to hear folks, like myself. You know, another voice in the race,” said candidate Delmar Chesley.
Gray’s last term in the Ward 7 seat led to a council chairmanship and, eventually, his election as mayor.
