Cavanaugh Gray To Fill Barnett's Vacancy On Downers Grove Council

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — The Downers Grove Village Council has a new commissioner to fill the spot left vacant when Mayor Bob Barnett was elected. Cavanaugh Gray, a local entrepreneur and college professor, was unanimously appointed by village officials and sworn in at Tuesday's village council meeting.

During the swearing-in ceremony, Gray was accompanied by his wife, Akua, and their sons, Gabriel and William.

Gray works as Adjunct Professor of New Media Entrepreneurship at Loyola University Chicago and has penned a book entitled "The Entrepreneurial Spirit Lives: 25 Tales to Help Entrepreneurs," which shares stories of his own successes and challenges as a businessman.

Gray shared a post on Facebook early Wednesday reflected on his background as a business owners and child of a teacher and firefighter.

"Countless startups I have helped launch. And the privilege of educating dozens of collegians over the past decade. With a teacher mom and a firefighter dad you can say that service has always been a part of my DNA," Gray wrote.

Gray wrote that he is "[g]rateful for the opportunity to serve with an amazing group of dedicated men and women as a Village of Downer’s Grove Commissioner."

Downers Grove Mayor Bob Barnett said in a Facebook post that Gray's skill set is a welcome addition to the council.

"As we move forward and strive to do more for the residents of Downers Grove I believe in some ways we will have to look and act like a startup. We will have to utilize creative low-to-no-cost strategies to improve ROI. We will be challenged by limited financial resources and we’ll have to be smart, and efficient as we identify the opportunities for progress."

"Cavanaugh has a record and history that we believe can and will serve as a welcome and productive addition to this Council team," Barnett said.

Gray's term will expire in April 2021.

Watch Gray's swearing-in ceremony and the Tuesday village meeting below: