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Paris Gray

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Paris Gray
Image of Paris Gray
Baltimore City Council District 8
Tenure

2024 - Present

Term ends

2028

Years in position

0

Predecessor
Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 5, 2024

Personal
Birthplace
Baltimore, Md.
Religion
Baptist
Profession
Government
Contact

Paris Gray (Democratic Party) is a member of the Baltimore City Council in Maryland, representing District 8. He assumed office on December 5, 2024. His current term ends on December 7, 2028.

Gray (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Baltimore City Council to represent District 8 in Maryland. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Gray completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Paris Gray was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Gray attended Indiana University. His career experience includes working in government. He has been affiliated with the Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School and Hope Harbor CDC. [1]

Elections

2024

See also: City elections in Baltimore, Maryland (2024)

General election

General election for Baltimore City Council District 8

Paris Gray won election in the general election for Baltimore City Council District 8 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Paris Gray
Paris Gray (D) Candidate Connection
 
99.2
 
14,473
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.8
 
123

Total votes: 14,596
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Baltimore City Council District 8

Paris Gray defeated Bilal Ali, Christian Allen, Joyous Jones, and Jeffery Allen in the Democratic primary for Baltimore City Council District 8 on May 14, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Paris Gray
Paris Gray Candidate Connection
 
41.4
 
2,669
Image of Bilal Ali
Bilal Ali
 
37.7
 
2,431
Image of Christian Allen
Christian Allen
 
8.1
 
525
Image of Joyous Jones
Joyous Jones
 
7.2
 
465
Image of Jeffery Allen
Jeffery Allen
 
5.5
 
356

Total votes: 6,446
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Gray in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Paris Gray completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Gray's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

I was born and raised in Baltimore and currently reside in Rognel Heights with my wife, Lindsey. We're eagerly awaiting the arrival of our baby boy this summer. My background includes a proven track record of community engagement and dedicated service.

For the past four years, I've served as the community outreach coordinator for the 8th district. In this role, I've collaborated with community associations, organized events, and addressed constituent concerns. My commitment to public service has made me a true advocate for our community.

I've been involved in mentorship programs, organized neighborhood cleanups, and addressed issues like illegal dumping, demonstrating a hands-on approach to enhancing our community. Initiatives like the Edmondson Ave Task Force showcase my dedication to combatting blight and empowering constituents to shape their neighborhoods.

With a history of engaging with constituents, offering practical solutions, and demonstrating responsive leadership, I am prepared to serve as the next councilman of the 8th district.
  • I want modernize the city's crime approach by collaborating with community organizations such as anti-violence groups and mentorship programs. To effectively combat crime, we must address root causes with a holistic approach. While police play a role, we must also empower mentorship and anti-violence groups with resources. They understand the community and families, and with proper support, can address crime's root causes. I'm committed to supporting them in every way possible.
  • I will ensure your tax dollars benefit you by holding city services accountable. With a proven track record in public service, as Community Outreach Coordinator, I've collaborated with city agencies to address issues like illegal dumping, potholes, and blight. As your Councilman, I'll continue delivering results for District 8 residents.
  • I'll advocate for our seniors, believing they deserve better than choosing between home repairs and prescription medicines. I'll prioritize helping longtime homeowners maintain their homes, enabling them to age in place with dignity.
I'm passionate about affordable housing and finding ways to create more options for people to live in the neighborhoods they choose. Additionally, I'm dedicated to examining public safety holistically to develop solutions that reduce crime without solely focusing on increasing arrests.
To be an effective politician, responsiveness is crucial. This includes promptly returning calls and emails, and addressing the needs of constituents. Integrity is also vital, as constituents must trust that you represent their voices accurately in city hall. Lastly, collaboration is key, involving working with community stakeholders, agencies, and fellow elected officials to deliver results for your district.
There are several qualities that make me ideal for the role of 8th District councilperson. One is my ability to listen and understand the needs of my constituents, as demonstrated by initiatives like the District 8 Job and Resource Fairs in response to job loss and resource shortages during the pandemic. Another is my skill in connecting and building relationships with diverse groups. I pride myself on my ability to engage with individuals, community organizations, and city agencies to achieve positive outcomes for my district.
Your core responsibilities include legislating to improve the everyday lives of your constituents. This involves advocating for their interests, needs, and concerns. Constituent services are also crucial, ensuring that issues related to city services are addressed and remedied. While legislating is important, addressing constituent services builds trust with the community. It's essential to take care of basic needs like trash pickup and potholes to demonstrate effective advocacy for the people of Baltimore.
The first historical event I remember is Nelson Mandela becoming president of South Africa. Teachers explained the struggles he endured to reach his country's highest office. It wasn't until my teen years that I fully understood his journey, and he has been a hero of mine ever since. I was 8 years old at the time.
While I don't believe previous experience in government or politics is necessary for holders of this office, I do think it's crucial for them to have experience in helping people find solutions to their problems. You can learn how government operates on the job, but you must have the ability to connect with people and deliver for them when they need you.
AFL-CIO, AFSCME, Sierra Club, Progressive Maryland, Bikemore, CASA, and the current Councilman Kristerfer Burnett.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 14, 2024

Political offices
Preceded by
Kristerfer Burnett (D)
Baltimore City Council District 8
2024-Present
Succeeded by
-