Eric Gray, founder of the Historic Pine Avenue Business Association and the Long Beach Music Council and board member of Friends of Bixby Park, officially announced he is running for the Long Beach City Council’s 2016 seat for the Second District today via his Facebook Page and a YouTube video.

Currently, Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal is completing her second term as Second District city councilmember. Gray is the first candidate from the Second District to announce his campaign. 

“My heart has literally been pulling closer to this every day,” said Gray.

He said he’s been thinking about running for the last two years and has a specific vision for Long beach’s future. He told the Post that his vision includes enhancing the Second District’s downtown corridor, focusing on economic development and public safety, but said he wouldn’t delve into the details until later in the race. 

“Long Beach is our city, and we are going to make change together,” Gray said in his announcement video. “Over the next year, I want to hear your dreams and visions and share my plans and goals with you centered around public safety and quality of life, urban revitalization, economic development and growth of music, arts and entertainment.”

Gray takes care to note the Second District’s many features, including the port, redeveloping neighborhoods, the Aquarium of the Pacific, Queen Mary, Convention Center and Museum of Latin American Art.

“The Second District is a key and unique position within the City of Long Beach,” he said, while noting “there’s still more work to do.”

Gray has a bachelor’s degree from Towson University and was a member of the 2014 class of Leadership Long Beach. He’s also sat on the Downtown Long Beach Associates’ Economic Development Committee and the Downtown Residential Council, according to his LinkedIn page.

Gray currently works at a Senior IT Sales Executive and Cloud Computing Services at ITO Solutions, Inc.

This story was updated on 6/15/15 at 5:31PM with comments from Eric Gray.