James Gray Jr. is a candidate for Hampton Mayor. His name will appear on the ballot on November 5, 2024.
Gray is running against Richelle Wallace for Hampton Mayor.
This is the first time the Hampton Mayoral race has been held in November, following a new law for local elections that went into effect July 1, 2021.
The first day of in-person early voting at your local registrar’s office for this election is Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. Click here to see who is on your ballot.
10 On Your Side reached out to all of the candidates running in this race, with a request for a bio and a list of questions to answer. If you do not see the candidate listed with a profile, we did not receive one.
Biography: Jimmy Gray was elected to the Hampton City Council in May 2016 and re-elected in 2018 and 2022. He retired from the Hampton City government in 2014, serving as Assistant City Manager with direct oversight of Public Safety and Human Services departments. Prior to that he served as the City’s Fire Chief for six years. He has 44 years of local government experience.
In his current position on the Hampton City Council, Jimmy serves as Vice-Mayor and represents the City on various local and regional boards and commissions including Hampton Roads Workforce Council, Western Tidewater Regional Jail and the Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads. He was also appointed by Governor Ralph Northam as the local government representative on the Virginia Board for Workforce Development.
Jimmy earned an A.A.S. Degree from Tidewater Community College, a Bachelor of Science degree from Hampton University, and a Master of Public Administration degree from Troy University. In addition, he has completed numerous leadership development programs, including the Civic Leadership Institute, LEAD Hampton Roads and the Senior Executive Institute at the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.
Jimmy values community service and gives his time freely to serve on the boards of various non-profits. His leadership roles include President of The 200+ Men Foundation and President of the Fort Monroe Foundation. Additionally, he serves on the Boards of Y.H.Thomas Community Center, Hampton Education Foundation, Bernadine Franciscan Sisters Foundation, Soundscapes and the Historical Foundation of Aberdeen Gardens. He and his wife Dana have four adult children and three grandchildren.
Why are you running for this office?
My vision is to make Hampton the city of choice for families, employment, business, recreation and culture. During my 8-year tenure as a member of city council, we have reduced violent crimes, implemented new pay plans to achieve competitive pay for city employees, expanded housing options with new residential developments, increased funding to modernize schools, invested in resiliency projects to protect vulnerable neighborhoods from the impact of flooding, and reduced the real estate tax rate from $1.24 to $1.15 to offset the impact of rising property values. We have made great strides toward improving the quality of life for all Hampton citizens, and I’m running for mayor to build upon the progress of the past eight years.
What is the top challenge facing Hampton, and how would you address it?
The top challenge facing Hampton is adapting to sea level rise driven by climate change. As mayor, I will continue to support innovative resiliency projects that protect Hampton’s most vulnerable neighborhoods from weather-related events. However, these projects are very expensive and we will need to leverage other sources of funding, when possible, to reduce the financial burden on Hampton citizens. Hampton recently signed an agreement with the Army Corp of Engineers to conduct the Virginia Peninsula Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study, which will examine federal interest in supporting projects in Hampton, such as elevating buildings, wetland restoration and tide gates and floodwalls to help manage the risk of storm damage. I look forward to the study’s recommendations so that we can continue to develop plans and implement projects that will protect our community.
What is your view addressing the affordable housing crisis?
We need housing options for various income levels to support families including those in the military who have recently been assigned to our area. We have included funds in our current budget to fund a housing study to update our master plans and provide information on housing needs in our city. We should also review our zoning code to see if there are revisions that could generate more affordable housing options such as allowing accessory dwelling units on single-family properties.
What is your view on Hampton’s Short-Term Rental Ordinance that limits rentals citywide?
Hampton needs short-term rentals to provide additional lodging options to support tourism. Tourism in our city stimulates economic growth, creates quality job opportunities and inspires new businesses. To that end, when people visit our city for conventions, entertainment, competitive sports and vacations, we would ideally like to retain 100 percent of the tourism dollars in Hampton to support our economy. However, our current hotel stock is not sufficient to accomplish this goal, so additional lodging options are needed. During the process of developing regulatory framework for Short-term Rentals, we relied on significant stakeholder input that resulted in a model ordinance that manages the growth of the short-term rental market in the city while protecting the quality of life in our beautiful neighborhoods. As with all ordinances, as we gain new information, we review and update them as necessary to meet the changing needs of our city.
How do you view potentially using general fund money to continue commercial air service at Newport News Williamsburg Airport?
Hampton currently has no legal financial obligation for the Newport News Williamsburg Airport. However, the airport is a regional asset, and Hampton is a regional partner. Therefore, I will not rule out the use of general fund dollars if it benefits Hampton citizens, either as a traditional commercial airport or as site for advance air mobility as recommended by a recent study.
What is your view on taking money from individuals who will likely have business before the city?
If the campaign contributions comply with State campaign finance regulations, I have no problem with accepting donations to my campaign committee. There are stakeholders in the city who have a vested interest in ensuring that Hampton has, in their opinion, quality citizens in leadership positions on our governing body, and they support those individuals with campaign contributions to assist them in getting elected. However, I will not accept any donation that that I perceive as an attempt to influence my vote or decision-making. I support projects and policies that are in the best interest of the city and our residents. If I don’t think it’s good for Hampton, I will not support it.
