By Emilie St. John
Contributing Writer
INGLEWOOD — City Councilwoman Gloria Gray is facing a recall days after announcing her candidacy for mayor.
Gray announced July 21 she was running against Mayor James Butts in the Nov. 3 election, stating she made the decision to run for mayor after consulting residents.
“The next chapter of Inglewood really should focus on the people who live here,” Gray said.
Butts had already announced his intention to seek an unprecedented fifth term.
Butts has been in office since 2011.
Other residents who have pulled nomination forms to challenge Butts include Raina Carrillo, Fre’Drisha Dixon, Arturo Martinez and Marvin McCoy. Nomination papers are due Aug. 7 at 5 p.m.
Gray also serves on the West Basin Municipal Water District’s Board of Director’s and has pulled nomination papers to retain that seat. In the 2018 and 2022 elections, Gray faced no challengers for her water board seat.
The recall focuses on Gray serving on both elected bodies in addition to “pay-to-play” allegations concerning a campaign donation she received from Murphy’s Bowl LLC, which is the company owned by Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer.
“Local government works only when residents can trust that council votes are cast on their merits through an objective shared governance process,” said local resident Andres Ibarra. “Our city cannot afford the optics of corruption, whether true or not, by elected officials receiving campaign contributions that violate the FPPC code of ethics from powerful interests with business before the council.”
According to one of the complaints, the City Council approved two agreements involving Murphy’s Bowl LLC related to the Intuit Dome development on May 9, 2023.
Roughly three weeks later, Murphy’s Bowl LLC contributed $2,500 to Gray’s campaign committee, according to public reports filed by Gray — an amount the complaint states exceeded the limits set for parties involved in government contract proceedings.
The state Fair Political Practices Commission has kicked back a complaint filed against Gray by resident Lauren Sutton that alleged Inglewood residents are not being properly served by Gray serving in both positions.
“According to the principles set forth in California Government Code Section 1099, and as supported by prior rulings by the FPPC, a person may not simultaneously hold two public offices if the duties of either office may conflict with the duties of the other,” Sutton wrote in the complaint. “In past determinations, similar dual office-holding arrangements have been deemed incompatible and therefore prohibited under California law.”
In 2023, former District Attorney George Gascon applied to Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office to sue David Argudo to remove him from his public offices as a member of the La Puente City Council and as a member of the La Puente Valley County Water District Board of Directors.
Bonta granted the application to sue Argudo, who remains in both seats.
The district attorney’s office has confirmed that it received two complaints about Gray’s holding both seats and have declined to seek her removal on both occasions.
Emilie St. John is a freelance journalist covering the areas of Carson, Compton, Inglewood and Willowbrook. Send tips to her at emiliesaintjohn@gmail.com.
