FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 24, 2007
For more information contact: C. Brylski/J. Henderson (504)-897-6110 

District 98 State Representative Cheryl A. Gray announces her candidacy for State Senator

Louisiana State Representative Cheryl A. Gray officially announced that she will seek election to the Senate District 5 seat that is being vacated by Senator Diana Bajoie. The district includes most of New Orleans ' Broadmoor, Central City, Lower Garden District, Garden District, Uptown and Carrollton neighborhoods. 

Elected to represent House District 98 in 2003, Rep. Gray currently serves on the House Appropriations, Health and Welfare, Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs committees, and the Joint Legislative Budget committee of the State legislature. Rep. Gray is also the Parliamentarian of the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus and the former chair of the Voter  Registration/Education Committee for the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus. 

"The citizens of District 5 want, need, and deserve a proven leader who has first-hand experience at navigating the halls of the state legislature. I have that experience. During my years of service, I have fought for  legislation to increase the availability of affordable housing, to adequately protect our children, and to responsibly and efficiently use our recovery dollars. And I will continue do the same as the next State Senator of District 5", said Representative Gray. 

While representing the citizens of New Orleans in House District 98, Ms. Gray fought for important family issues. Representative Gray supported policy to improve affordable housing opportunities for our families and workers. She also sponsored a bill which makes it mandatory for criminal background checks for childcare workers. Most recently, Representative Gray championed the formation of a taskforce to ensure that recovery dollars are spent effectively and efficiently. She also took a leading role in pushing for hurricane recovery dollars for institutions of higher learning affected by Hurricane Katrina. She also authored a bill for the creation of a state Hurricane Katrina Memorial so that the tragedy and lessons learned are never forgotten.

Her legislative service has been marked by awards for her leadership in health reform and family issues, including Public Official of the Year by the Louisiana Chapter/National Association of Social Workers, State Representative of the Year for the Childcare Association of Louisiana and Legislator of the Year for the Louisiana Association of Non-Profit Organizations and the American Cancer Association. 

An attorney by profession, she is Of Counsel in the law firm of Gray & Gray, PLC, where she specializes in personal injury law. She is a graduate of Stanford University (1990) and Tulane University Law   School (1993).

Rep. Gray strongly believes in giving back to her community and is active with many organizations. She is a former Vice-President of the National Bar Association and the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library. She serves on the board of Total Community Action and the Tulane Institute of Infant & Childhood Mental Health. In 2005 and 2007, Rep. Gray served as a Team Captain for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life Event. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the New Orleans Chapter of Links.  Ms. Gray is also an active member of the Asia Baptist Church .