Chester B. Wray
Chester B. "Chet" Wray was a democratic politician who represented Orange County in the California State Assembly from 1976 to 1982.
Chester B. Wray | |
|---|---|
| California State Assemblyman, 71st District | |
| In office 1976–1982 | |
| Preceded by | Paul Carpenter |
| Succeeded by | Doris Allen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 23, 1923 Searcy, Arkansas |
| Died | December 28, 2006 (age 82) Rocklin, California |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Hampton Wray (1943-1998) Cleo Wray (2002-2006) |
| Profession | Auto worker |
Wray was born May 26, 1923, in Searcy, Arkansas, and before moving his wife Mary and their four children to California in 1954, he took classes at the University of Arkansas and later attended UCLA, where Chet studied political science. He and his family later moved to California, where he became the president of the United Auto Workers Union local.
Chet first ran for election in 1976 for the 71st Assembly District in Orange County. Running as a Democrat in predominantly Republican Orange County, Chet eked out a very slim victory, winning by just 38 votes.
While in the state assembly, Wray supported alternative-energy bills and acted as co-chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee. While on the board, Chet pushed for more funding for mass transit.
After losing his bid for a third assembly term to Republican businesswoman Doris Allen, Wray was appointed to the state Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board in 1982 in Sacramento by then Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr..
Wray died of Parkinson's disease on December 28, 2006, at his home in Rocklin, California.