Ray Washington is a fifth generation Floridian who has lived in and around Gainesville since 1978, and in the current 1st District for over 12 years. He is a practicing attorney in Gaineville, with an office near Main Street off 16th Avenue. Most of his clients in the last decade have been from the 1st District. CAMPAIGN WEBSITE
He is married to the former Elizabeth Yeager, and lives in the Colclough Hill neighborhood with Elizabeth and 12-year-old son Benjamin, who attends Howard Bishop Middle School, having previously attended Williams Elementary School.
Ray's 24-year-old son John attended Lincoln Middle School and Eastside High School. He graduated from the University of Florida; as a student there, he volunteered as a mentor at the Reichert House in the 1st District. Ray's 23-year-old son David attended Howard Bishop Middle School and Eastside High School. He also graduated from the University of Florida and as a student worked as director of the after school program at the Dignity Project in the 1st District.
Ray entered the City Commission race at the last minute on November 18, 2011, after many unsuccessful attempts to convince the two declared candidates for the 1st District seat to publicly take a strong stand to protect the people of the district from the disproportionate impacts they will suffer if the $3-billion GRU-GREC biomass deal is not readdressed by the City Commission.
Ray respects the two other candidates who are competing for the honor of representing 1st District residents, but believes that the next City Commissioner for the district must be an ardent advocate of its citizens, especially when such advocacy is opposed by power brokers who may not have the best interests of the citizens of the 1st District at heart.
Ray has frequently written about people and issues in the 1st District. Some of his stories can be found here.
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