Jim Graham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jim Graham
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| Member of the Council of the District of Columbia from Ward 1 | |
| In office January 2, 1999 – January 2, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Frank Smith |
| Succeeded by | Brianne Nadeau |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James McMillan Nielson Graham
August 26, 1945 Wishaw, Scotland |
| Died | June 11, 2017 (aged 71) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Alma mater | Michigan State University University of Michigan Law School Georgetown University Law Center |
James McMillan Nielson Graham (born August 26, 1945 – died June 11, 2017) was a politician born in Scotland who became an American citizen. He was a member of the Council of the District of Columbia, which is like the city council for Washington, D.C. He was part of the Democratic Party and represented an area called Ward 1 in Washington, D.C. from 1999 to 2015.
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Early Life and Education
Jim Graham was born in Wishaw, Scotland, on August 26, 1945. His parents moved to the United States from Scotland and settled in Hyattsville, Maryland. Neither of his parents had finished high school.
Graham went to Michigan State University, where he was active in student politics and was the vice president of the National Student Association. He then earned a law degree, called a J.D., from the University of Michigan Law School. Later, he earned another advanced law degree, an L.L.M., from Georgetown University Law Center.
After finishing his studies, Graham worked as a law clerk for Chief Justice Earl Warren, who was the head judge of the U.S. Supreme Court. He also worked as a lawyer for a committee in the U.S. Senate. Graham also taught law as a part-time professor at Georgetown University Law Center and George Washington University. He was allowed to practice law in the District of Columbia and at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Before he joined the city council, Graham was the leader of the Whitman-Walker Clinic. This is a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C., that helps people living with HIV and AIDS.
Helping the Community
Jim Graham joined the board of the Whitman-Walker Clinic in October 1979. He helped the clinic get through tough times when it didn't have enough money. In April 1981, he became the president of the board. Just three years later, in 1984, he became the executive director. He led the clinic's efforts to help people with AIDS for 15 years, until 1999.
Under his leadership, the clinic became a very important place for people dealing with HIV/AIDS. It grew to have more than 1,200 volunteers and 270 full-time employees. The clinic also opened smaller offices in other parts of Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. When Graham left Whitman-Walker in January 1999, it was one of the best community-based medical organizations in the country helping people with HIV/AIDS.
In 1984, Graham noticed that people with AIDS weren't getting good legal help. So, he personally spent 18 months giving legal advice to those who needed it.
Public Service and Leadership
Jim Graham was first elected to the D.C. Council in 1998. He won his re-election campaigns in 2002, 2006, and 2010. However, he lost his bid for a fifth term in the Democratic primary election on April 1, 2014, to Brianne Nadeau.
Graham also served as the chairman of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's board of directors two times. This board oversees the public transportation system in the Washington, D.C. area, including the Metro trains and buses. He was chairman in 2003 and again in 2009.
In 1999 and 2007, Jim Graham gave a large collection of his personal and work documents to George Washington University. These papers are now kept at the university's Special Collections Research Center, which is part of the Gelman Library. They can be used by people who want to learn more about his life and work.
Council Committees
While on the D.C. Council, Jim Graham was a member of several important committees. These committees help make decisions about different parts of the city.
- Committee on Human Services (he was the chairman of this committee)
- Committee of the Whole (this committee includes all council members)
- Committee on Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
- Committee on Transportation and the Environment
- Committee on Workforce and Community Affairs
Later Years
Jim Graham passed away on June 11, 2017, at George Washington University Hospital. He died from problems related to an infection and other issues from a lung condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Organizations He Supported
Jim Graham was involved with many organizations that worked to help people and communities.
- D.C. AIDS Task Force (member since 1983)
- AIDS Action Council (former Board member)
- National Lesbian and Gay Health Foundation (former Board member)
- Coalition for Consumers Health and Safety
- Washington AIDS Partnership (former Advisory Committee member)
- National AIDS Network (former Treasurer and Board member)
Challenges and Public Scrutiny
In early 2005, Jim Graham faced some criticism. He was accused of actions that led to African-American businesses leaving neighborhoods like Columbia Heights, Shaw, and the U Street corridor.
Later, in September 2009, his Chief of Staff, Ted Loza, was arrested. He was accused of taking money in exchange for promoting laws that would benefit certain taxi companies. Because Graham was the chairman of the committee that oversaw taxi rules, he decided to step down from that role after his staff member's arrest.
The District of Columbia Board of Ethics and Government Accountability also found that Graham had acted improperly. They found evidence that he asked a company to drop its offer for a real estate project. This was so another company, which had given money to Graham, could win the project. In return, Graham offered to help that company get a lottery contract. This was against the rules for District employees. The D.C. Council also officially criticized Graham for his actions. Graham said that his actions were just part of normal political negotiations, not illegal or unethical.
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Jim Graham, a former member of the Council of the District of Columbia.
