John L. Ray

John Lamar Ray (May 16, 1943 – April 2025) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician in Washington, D.C.

Ray was an at-large member of the Council of the District of Columbia from 1979 to 1997. Ray was a partner and member of the board of directors at the law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips.

Early life Ray was born on May 16, 1943 and raised in Toms Creek, Georgia. He graduated from George Washington University School of Law in 1973. While a law school student, Ray interned at Abe Fortas' law firm. He was Barry's chosen successor. Ray went on to win the May 1 special election handily and then to be reelected in 1980, 1984, 1988, and 1992. Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly had backed another at-large council member, Linda Cropp, for the appointment and thought she had lined up the votes on the council, but Charlene Drew Jarvis switched her vote to Ray because she intended to run for chairman in the special election and viewed Cropp as a threat. Ray finished his term as at-large member, but he did not run for reelection in 1996. By law, councilmembers other than the chairman are allowed to hold other employment. Ray was Of Counsel to the law firm Baker & Hostetler from 1988 to 1994.