Politics & Government
Former Ward 1 DC Councilmember Jim Graham Passes Away At 71
Graham, who served four terms on the D.C. Council before being defeated in 2014, was a pioneer in the gay community.
WASHINGTON, DC — Former Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham has passed away, the D.C. Council confirmed Thursday afternoon. He was 71.
Graham, who could always be seen wearing his trademark colorful bowtie, served as Ward 1 representative from 1999 through 2015. He was known as a pioneer in the gay community, leading the fight against HIV and AIDS on the board of the nonprofit Whitman-Walker Clinic in the 1980s and 1990s.
Graham was defeated in his bid for a fifth term in the Democratic primary on April 1, 2014, falling to challenge Brianne Nadeau by a margin of 59-41 percent.
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Graham also served as chairman of WMATA twice, in 2003 and in 2009.
We've just been told that former Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham has passed away. Our hearts go out to all who, like us, knew & loved him. pic.twitter.com/DNSg2B5FF6
— Council of DC (@councilofdc) June 15, 2017
Image via Council of D.C.
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