Mayor Jim Gray’s last week in office

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) — Lexington gets a new mayor and city council Sunday and that means saying goodbye to two-term Mayor Jim Gray.

Gray says, “It’s been the best job of my life.”

With just a few days left in his term, Mayor Gray is reflecting on his last eight years in office.

“I am so grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to serve the people of Lexington.”

Gray has several projects under his belt, working on downtown, the renovation of Rupp Arena and the convention center, a historic courthouse, the town branch project and fixing our sanitary sewers.

“Ya know there’s that movie Field of Dreams ‘Build it and they will come’. I’ve always believed build it first for your own people then others will come,” says Gray. “And that’s what we’ve tried to do here, build it first for our own people and then others will come.”

Gray says he’s proud of where we are today and where we’re going next.

“But I’ll tell you what I’m probably proudest of is that Lexington today is a welcoming and inclusive community. If you’re someone who hasn’t felt that you were included and you feel today that Lexington is a place that welcomes you, then it’s a big deal.”

And as for some parting wisdom for the city of Lexington and its people, Gray had this to say.

“We’ve got a special place here, we’ve got a special geography and land,” says Mayor Gray. “The bluegrass we are trying to preserve that’s very special and so continuing to preserve that is important.”

As for what comes next for Gray, he says he’ll be looking for more opportunities in the private sector and charitable sector, while still working on projects he’s been involved in here in Lexington.

“Somebody asked me ‘Am I gonna stay in Lexington?’ and I said ‘You couldn’t push me out with a bulldozer,’ so I’m right here to help in whatever way I can.”

We’ll miss you Mayor Jim Gray!