Congressman Gray takes oath in front of constituents
A crowd of people enjoyed a chance to celebrate a hometown history in the making — and at the Courthouse Museum, no less.
Adam Gray — a native Mercedian who went from being in the first graduating class of Golden Valley High School to the halls of the State Capitol as a member of the Assembly — took the Oath of Office on Jan. 30 as the new congressman to represent Merced County and the rest of District 13 in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The 47-year-old Democrat started his new job in early January, but this local ceremony was a chance for more than a hundred friends, family members and local leaders to wish him well.
“Thank you to all of the folks who worked so hard to put this event together,” said Gray as he highlighted the important role some attendees played in putting him on a path to Washington D.C.
“When you do the work, things actually do get done. I know this is a time in our country’s history where some folks are excited about the new administration, and the prospects that they voted for, and others folks are deeply concerned about the direction of the country, and what’s going on.
“When I look back at my time in politics I always say that I don’t play a moderate on TV. I’m actually a moderate. I get my heart in my head. I actually believe in working together.”
Gray took the Oath of Office in the historic courtroom of the Courthouse Museum, and the ceremony was presided over by Merced County Superior Court Judge John Kirihara. As Gray swore to defend the Constitution, he put his hand on a century-old Bible held by his mother Candice Adam-Medefind.
Earlier, Gray’s mother and sister Marit Medefind-Bond sang “This Land Is Your Land,” the famous folk song by Woody Guthrie that was written in critical response to Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America.”
Congressman Gray said the spirit of cooperation will help the local community as well as the entire country.
“Everybody that you talk to, Republican or Democrat, oftentimes has the same desires — a need for a good education, good schools, a safe community, good roads, a good job. We have different ideas on how we get there, but we all very much want the same things,” he said.
“We’ve got to find a way to move forward as a country to work together and accomplish not just good things but great things for our community and for the entire United States of America. That’s why I’ve gone there. That’s why you’ve sent me there. And I’m honored to have the opportunity and I will say that I require one thing from each and everyone of you — which is that continued partnership. When I need to know things about education I call teachers, principals, and school board members. When I need to understand what’s happening in the economy I talk to small business folks, we talk to farmers.
“We are stronger when we work together.”
In the election held last November, Gray defeated incumbent Republican Congressman John Duarte who was in his first term in office. The final vote tally took weeks to confirm, and the election was ultimately decided in Gray’s favor by only 164 votes.
The 13th Congressional district represents Merced County and parts of Madera, Fresno, Stanislaus, and San Joaquin counties.
Gray is currently serving on the House committees that pertain to natural resources and agriculture. He also serves on two subcommittees involving livestock and water issues.