By Emilie St. John
Contributing Writer
INGLEWOOD — City Councilwoman Gloria Gray is pressing forward with running for two elected seats on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Gray was elected to the City Council in March 2023 in a heated runoff with former Councilman George Dotson.
She had already secured her seat on the West Basin Municipal Water District Board of Directors after her election was canceled because she drew no challengers. In media interviews, she declined to vacate the water board seat, declaring that she was elected by the voters, which did not happen.
After assuming the seat on the Inglewood City Council, she stopped attending scheduled water board meetings in person, opting instead to phone in from her Inglewood home.
West Basin’s legal counsel publicly shared with her and water ratepayers that Gray was most likely in violation of state law for holding what is described as incompatible seats, since she votes on budgets for the water board that derives from water rates paid by Inglewood residents.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has published legal opinions affirming that the duties of a water agency member and a city council member overlap.
Bonta routinely issues quo warranto opinions under California Government Code Section 1099 addressing “incompatible offices.”
Despite multiple complaints being submitted to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office alleging that Gray violates Government Code 1099, District Attorney Nathan Hochman has declined to move forward with applying to Bonta’s office to have her formally removed from one of her seats, as was done with other elected officials around Los Angeles County.
Gray has drawn multiple challengers to her water board seat in the Nov. 3 election.
Carol Raines-Brown has qualified for the ballot. She is a former member of the Inglewood school board and is remembered for being the only member to vote against the district going into receivership.
“Check my record; I was the only member of the board who was adamant about retaining local control, and we need representation on the water board that is both present and available to address ratepayers’ concerns,” said Brown when reached for comment.
Tyron Turner, who works as a liaison for a member of the Water Replenishment District, has also qualified for the ballot.
Turner describes himself as a community water advisor, but has not been visible on water issues throughout the district.
The Water Replenishment District is responsible for cleaning groundwater and works alongside West Basin; however, cities served by West Basin have seen continued rate increases because they rely on purchasing water, as they cannot use their groundwater for a variety of reasons.
Lucilla Margarita Martinez pulled papers to run but has not formally qualified for the ballot. Her husband, Arturo, has qualified to run for mayor of Inglewood.
Emilie St. John is a freelance journalist covering the areas of Carson, Compton, Inglewood and Willowbrook. Send tips to her at emiliesaintjohn@gmail.com.
