At 25, Rayshaun Gravely is ready to take his first jump into politics. He is hoping to bring fresh takes to city topics, and has a steadfast passion for community interactions. His platform is based on open communication and helping to make Martinsville a better place for all generations.
Gravely is a Martinsville native with a background in law enforcement. Instead of going to college, he joined the Henry County Sheriff’s office at the age of 19. Currently, he owns a landscaping business and works in in-home healthcare.
“My passion is two things, mental health and law enforcement,” Gravely said, adding that his decision to seek office is linked to enjoying people and the need for a younger perspective.
“We need fresh blood and new ideas. I’m coming in as an individual. I don’t know any insiders. I don’t know anything about what’s going on,” Gravely said, noting that he isn’t connected to the current council or officials.
“They say Martinsville is a good place to retire, but once the old generation moves on, there’s no one left but young people. So, if you don’t start setting it up for not only the retired people, but also the younger generation to enjoy, then Martinsville is going to die,” he said.
To help with this, Gravely said he wants to look into bringing back the parks and rec program and see the trade programs expand.
“I’m coming in with a fresh brain and a fresh and fresh start. I want to try and make a difference. People need someone they can trust to get the job done,” Gravely said, and he feels like he is that person.
“I’m not just going to sit in the council seat,” he said. “I want to give a voice to each individual, to keep pushing the city forward.”
He also wants to see the school system succeed and he has a vested interest – Gravely graduated from Martinsville High School in 2018.
Schools Superintendent Dr. Zeb Talley “is doing a wonderful job of moving the school system forward, we have wonderful teachers and a wonderful administration,” Gravely said. In fact, he feels that the division “is doing all that they can for the students. That’s part of my platform – to continue on the education of children in this area.”
Gravely said he also holds law enforcement close to heart.
“A lot of the city guys I know well,” he said, adding that while he is aware of recent criticisms, “sometimes, from the outside, looking in, if you don’t know how it’s run or structured, you won’t understand why things are done the way they are. They’re doing a great job. The crime rate is down.”
He also praised the county sheriff’s office for its work. As a former officer, Gravely said he started in corrections, and wants to see enhancements to public safety that will keep the community feeling at ease.
Gravely says since he’s been campaigning, he’s heard complaints about electric costs.
“I tell people if I’m elected, once I get in, I will do my best to see if there are other options,” he said, adding he wants to work towards finding a solution to high electric bills.
He is against reversion and believes Martinsville will continue to grow, wants to find a balance to ensure that both the older and younger generations have places to enjoy in the city, and would love to see some of the conveniences of downtown Greensboro brought to Martinsville.
“You can never get too many restaurants. People love to eat. We need some more name-brand shopping centers,” he said.
Additionally, he wants to see more jobs and affordable housing in the city.
“We have lots of buildings that could turn into something like date centers and affordable housing,” Gravely said, adding that he believes that Martinsville needs to support its community better.
“A lot of people are struggling, so we need some investors in, or government funding where we could have affordable housing,” he said.
Gravely, who said he has an open-door policy, is looking forward to meeting people and working with the community.
Even if he doesn’t get elected, Gravely said he plans to stay involved.
“You won’t just see me not get elected and then run off,” he said. “I want to be active in this community.”
