Lester R. Rice-Wray
Encyclopedia
Lester Rice-Wray was a professor of mathematics at the University of Denver
who later was elected to the City Council in Los Angeles, California, and was the first councilman there to face a recall election under the 1925 city charter.
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He was married. His first wife died at the age of 53 on January 28, 1929. His second wife, Nellie, obtained a divorce in November 1935 on the grounds that her husband struck her and refused to support her properly and that he was abusive and drank to excess.
His mother, Ellah Agnes Rice-Wray, died on June 18, 1938, leaving her children, Lester, J. Allen, Theron C. and Ella Rice-Wray and Gwendolynne Benn.
In 1927 the 6th District encompassed the Hyde Park and Angeles Mesa annexations and Vermont Avenue
south to 62nd Street as well as a shoestring strip leading to Westchester, Mines Field and the Hyperion sewage screening plant
.
Rice-Wray defeated 6th District
Council Member Edward E. Moore
in 1927 with the backing of Mayor George E. Cryer and political boss Kent Parrot, but was quickly enveloped in controversy over his support of a massive Slauson Avenue
storm drain project. Petitioners for a recall election
charged him with ignoring the wishes of his constituents opposed to the project, which affected some 30,000 property owners and for which they would be taxed. The area was later described as 50 million square feet "bounded by Slauson Avenue, extending into the city of Inglewood
and Van Ness avenue to Gramercy Place." In the resulting August 1928 election, Rice-Wray was recalled from office by a vote of 10,168 to 5,872. James G. McAllister
was elected to succeed him. He was the first City Council member to face a recall election under the 1925 City Charter.
Afterward, a new electoral possibility opened for Rice-Wray, the transfer of the 11th District from Downtown to the coast region, including Venice and Palms." There was no incumbent, so Rice-Wray ran for the vacancy in 1929, but he was soundly defeated in the final by J.C. Barthel
, 11,410 votes to 6,647.
from the Mar Vista area. He apologized to the judge for his zealousness, but Wlson nevertheless held the council member in contempt and imposed the fine.
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
who later was elected to the City Council in Los Angeles, California, and was the first councilman there to face a recall election under the 1925 city charter.
Biography
Rice-Wray was born in Missouri and educated in both public and private schools. He was a licensed teacher at the age of 16. At the outbreak of World War I, he worked in Washington, D.C., to "straighten out the inefficiencies of the American Express Railway Company in the District of Columbia, which was a center of supply distribution." He moved to Los Angeles in 1920 and became president of the Greater Slauson-Avenue Improvement Association.He was married. His first wife died at the age of 53 on January 28, 1929. His second wife, Nellie, obtained a divorce in November 1935 on the grounds that her husband struck her and refused to support her properly and that he was abusive and drank to excess.
His mother, Ellah Agnes Rice-Wray, died on June 18, 1938, leaving her children, Lester, J. Allen, Theron C. and Ella Rice-Wray and Gwendolynne Benn.
Elections
See also List of Los Angeles municipal election returns, 1927, 1928 and 1929In 1927 the 6th District encompassed the Hyde Park and Angeles Mesa annexations and Vermont Avenue
Vermont Avenue
Vermont Avenue is one of the longest running north/south streets in Los Angeles, California with a length of about . Located just west of the Harbor Freeway for the major portion south of Downtown Los Angeles, it starts in Griffith Park at the Greek Theatre in the Los Feliz neighborhood as a...
south to 62nd Street as well as a shoestring strip leading to Westchester, Mines Field and the Hyperion sewage screening plant
Hyperion sewage treatment plant
The Hyperion Wastewater Treatment plant is located in southwest Los Angeles, California, next to Dockweiler State Beach on Santa Monica Bay. The largest wastewater treatment facility in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area, Hyperion is operated by the City of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works,...
.
Rice-Wray defeated 6th District
Los Angeles City Council District 6
Los Angeles City Council District 6 is one of the 15 districts of the Los Angeles City Council, covering much of the San Fernando Valley. It is represented by Tony Cardenas....
Council Member Edward E. Moore
Edward E. Moore
Not to be confused with George E. Moore, Los Angeles City Council member, 1943–51Edward E. Moore , an attorney and real-estate man, was an Indiana state senator for eight years in the early part of the 20th Century and a City Council member in Los Angeles, California, from 1925 to...
in 1927 with the backing of Mayor George E. Cryer and political boss Kent Parrot, but was quickly enveloped in controversy over his support of a massive Slauson Avenue
Slauson Avenue
Slauson Avenue is a major east-west thoroughfare for southern Los Angeles County, California, named for the land developer and Los Angeles Board of Education member J. S. Slauson. It passes through Culver City, Ladera Heights, View Park-Windsor Hills, Baldwin Hills, Inglewood, South Los Angeles,...
storm drain project. Petitioners for a recall election
Recall election
A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended...
charged him with ignoring the wishes of his constituents opposed to the project, which affected some 30,000 property owners and for which they would be taxed. The area was later described as 50 million square feet "bounded by Slauson Avenue, extending into the city of Inglewood
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
and Van Ness avenue to Gramercy Place." In the resulting August 1928 election, Rice-Wray was recalled from office by a vote of 10,168 to 5,872. James G. McAllister
James G. McAllister
Not to be confused with Robert S. MacAlister, Los Angeles City Council member 1934–39James G. McAllister was a 20th century rancher and miner who was on the Utah Board of Equalization and later was a member of the Los Angeles, California, City Council from 1928 to 1933.-Biography:McAllister was...
was elected to succeed him. He was the first City Council member to face a recall election under the 1925 City Charter.
Afterward, a new electoral possibility opened for Rice-Wray, the transfer of the 11th District from Downtown to the coast region, including Venice and Palms." There was no incumbent, so Rice-Wray ran for the vacancy in 1929, but he was soundly defeated in the final by J.C. Barthel
J.C. Barthel
Julius C. Barthel, who went by J.C. Barthel, was an engineer and politician who was a Los Angeles City Council member from 1929 to 1931.-Biography:...
, 11,410 votes to 6,647.
Council activity
While in the council, Rice-Wray was fined $25 by Superior Judge Leonard Wilson for having sent the judge a letter urging quick action on a lawsuit involving the removal of sanitariumsSanatorium
A sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically associated with treatment of tuberculosis before antibiotics...
from the Mar Vista area. He apologized to the judge for his zealousness, but Wlson nevertheless held the council member in contempt and imposed the fine.