FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                               

Date: April 3, 2012                                                                      

(Orlando) -- Jim Gray scored a landslide victory Tuesday night in his bid for the Orlando City Commission District One.  Jim received 55% of the vote in a four-person race, thus avoiding a runoff.

“Jim’s victory on the first ballot is an incredible feat in Orlando City elections,” said the Campaign’s General Consultant and Consensus co-founder Tre’ Evers.  “Most city elections go to a runoff the first time an individual is elected, so Jim’s first-ballot win is a convincing mandate for his agenda for a vibrant, economically strong and fiscally sound Orlando.”

Jim’s campaigned on his success in business, and his desire to bring private sector experience to City Hall.  District One was represented most recently by Phil Diamond, and previously by former Mayor Glenda E. Hood.  Historically, District One encompassed neighborhoods just outside of downtown and the less populated areas around the Orlando International Airport.  With the rapid development of Lake Nona and the Medical City area, the population in SE Orlando has exploded and now over a third of the residents in District One reside south of the 528 (Beachline). 

After graduating from high school Jim enlisted in the US Air Force where he spent three years and another three in the Air National Guard.  In between active and reserve duty, Jim married his high school sweetheart Kathy.  Jim obtained a degree in Finance from the University of Houston and shortly thereafter moved to the Orlando area to work for First Union and Wachovia banks.  Jim is currently Vice President of Parkway Realty Services in their downtown Orlando headquarters.  Jim was a youth baseball and basketball coach, a member of Florida Citrus Sports and many other community organizations.

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