From the Block to City Hall: Why Deborah Gray Is the Right Choice for Ward 3
Before she ever took the oath of office, Councilwoman Deborah Gray was already doing the work.
Long before campaign flyers or candidate forums, you could find her leading her East 110th Street Block Club, organizing book giveaways through the Cleveland Public Library, or serving seniors with the Black Child Development Institute. Her work wasn’t about headlines or hashtags—it was about people. And that’s still true today.
Councilwoman Gray didn’t become a public servant to get a title. She earned that title because she was already serving the public.
Since being elected to represent Ward 4, Gray has built a record that speaks volumes. She co-sponsored legislation that created the Cleveland Commission on Black Women and Girls—a historic effort to address systemic inequities in health, housing, education, and safety.
She’s taken her fight across state lines, traveling to New York City to confront absentee landlords from the Chetrit Group—owners of neglected Cleveland apartment buildings who were failing to respond to local maintenance and safety violations. Her bold move wasn’t just symbolic—it brought media attention, pressure, and accountability to an issue that had been ignored for too long.
She’s also been a fierce advocate for the residents of Shaker Square, where families were forced to live without heat, running water, or safe conditions. Councilwoman Gray stood beside those tenants, held emergency meetings, worked with local agencies, and called out neglectful ownership at every level. She pushed for immediate action and long-term solutions, proving that her loyalty is to the people, not to property owners.
Her commitment isn’t just in the moments that go viral. It’s in the day-to-day: securing over $1.6 million in funding for neighborhood priorities, pushing forward affordable housing like the 120-unit Woodhill Station West, and ensuring seniors have the resources they need to stay in their homes with dignity.
She doesn’t just attend community meetings. She listens. She doesn’t just make promises. She delivers.
Now, as Cleveland undergoes redistricting, Deborah Gray is looking ahead—to the newly drawn Ward 3. It may be a new map, but the mission remains the same.
Equity. Safety. Accountability. Real results.
Gray is already out in the new Ward 3, knocking on doors, checking on seniors, connecting with block clubs, and advocating for solutions. Because that’s who she is. She’s not waiting to win. She’s already working.
In a time when Cleveland needs bold leadership rooted in lived experience, Councilwoman Deborah Gray is the right person at the right time.
Not because of politics.
Because of purpose.