Vincent Gregory
Encyclopedia
Vincent Gregory is a politician from the state of Michigan
. In 2008, he was elected as a Democrat to the Michigan State House of Representatives
. Taking office in 2009, he represents the 35th State House District, which is located in Oakland County
and includes the cities of Southfield
, Lathrup Village
, part of Oak Park
, and Royal Oak Township. Prior to serving in the State Legislature, Gregory was an Oakland County Commissioner.
, was born on July 20, 1948 in Detroit, Michigan
to Laurence and Dorothy Gregory. He was the second eldest of five children, and had three brothers, Laurence, Timothy, and Delbert, and a sister, Patricia. He attended Dundee High School in Dundee, Michigan
in Monroe County
. After graduating from High School in 1966, he began attending Madonna University
, a Catholic college in Livonia, Michigan
. However, his schooling was interrupted in April 1968 when he was drafted into the United States Marine Corps
. He was shipped to Vietnam
in November 1968, where he would serve until November 1969. In 1970, Gregory was honorably discharged.
In 1973, Vincent Gregory joined the Wayne County
Sheriff's Department, where he attained the rank of Corporal and then Detective. In 1983, he was elected Vice President of the Local 502 SEIU, AFL-CIO
Union. He ran for President of the Union in 1993, won, and served as President until 2000. In 2003, he retired from the Wayne County Sheriff's Department.
In 2005, Gregory returned to Madonna University
to complete his schooling that was interrupted by his service in Vietnam. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice
in May 2006. Gregory married his wife, Yvonne, in 1978. They live in Southfield
and have six adult children, Lawrence, Troi, Vanessa, Vincent, Cortney, and Kristen. They have five grandchildren.
, Lathrup Village
, and Berkley
. He retired from the commission in 2008.
In 2008, he announced his candidacy for the 35th State House District, which was to be vacated by then Rep. Paul Condino, who was term limited. Gregory won the Democratic Primary with about 60% of the vote and went on to easily defeat Republican Katie Koppin in the 2008 General Election. He received 41,017 votes, more than any other candidate for the State House of Representatives in Michigan. The 35th District is majority African American
and overwhelmingly Democratic.
He is currently seeking election to the 14th State Senate District for the seat vacated by term limited State Senator Gilda Jacobs
.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. In 2008, he was elected as a Democrat to the Michigan State House of Representatives
Michigan State House of Representatives
The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2000 federal U.S. Census.Members are elected in...
. Taking office in 2009, he represents the 35th State House District, which is located in Oakland County
Oakland County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census, there were 1,202,362 people, 471,115 households, and 315,175 families residing in the county. The population density as of the 2000 census was 1,369 people per square mile . There were 492,006 housing units at an average density of 564 per square mile...
and includes the cities of Southfield
Southfield, Michigan
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which 0.04% is water. The main branch of the River Rouge runs through Southfield. The city is bounded to the south by Eight Mile Road, its western border is Inkster Road, and to the east it is bounded by Greenfield Road...
, Lathrup Village
Lathrup Village, Michigan
Lathrup Village is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,075 at the 2010 census. This city is completely surrounded by the city of Southfield. The I-696 / Reuther Freeway goes through nearly the east-west center of town, and Southfield Road goes nearly...
, part of Oak Park
Oak Park, Michigan
As of the census of 2000, there were 29,793 people, 11,104 households, and 7,595 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,863.8 persons per square mile . There were 11,370 housing units at an average density of 2,263.9 per square mile...
, and Royal Oak Township. Prior to serving in the State Legislature, Gregory was an Oakland County Commissioner.
Biography
Vincent Gregory, an African AmericanAfrican American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, was born on July 20, 1948 in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
to Laurence and Dorothy Gregory. He was the second eldest of five children, and had three brothers, Laurence, Timothy, and Delbert, and a sister, Patricia. He attended Dundee High School in Dundee, Michigan
Dundee, Michigan
Dundee is a village in Monroe County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,522 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Dundee Township. Through a series of annexations and land transfers, the village has greatly increased in size over the past several years...
in Monroe County
Monroe County, Michigan
Monroe County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 2010 population is 152,021. The largest city and county seat is Monroe. The U.S. Census Bureau defines all of Monroe County as conterminous with the Monroe Metropolitan Area...
. After graduating from High School in 1966, he began attending Madonna University
Madonna University
Madonna University is a private, non-profit, Catholic university located in suburban Livonia, Michigan, on the western perimeter of metropolitan Detroit. Conducted by the Felician Sisters, it has extension campuses in Southwest Detroit, Orchard Lake, Michigan Madonna University is a private,...
, a Catholic college in Livonia, Michigan
Livonia, Michigan
Livonia is a city in the northwest part of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Livonia is a very large suburb with an array of traditional neighborhoods connected to the metropolitan area by freeways. The population was 96,942 at the 2010 census, making it Michigan's 9th largest...
. However, his schooling was interrupted in April 1968 when he was drafted into the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. He was shipped to Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
in November 1968, where he would serve until November 1969. In 1970, Gregory was honorably discharged.
In 1973, Vincent Gregory joined the Wayne County
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
Sheriff's Department, where he attained the rank of Corporal and then Detective. In 1983, he was elected Vice President of the Local 502 SEIU, AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
Union. He ran for President of the Union in 1993, won, and served as President until 2000. In 2003, he retired from the Wayne County Sheriff's Department.
In 2005, Gregory returned to Madonna University
Madonna University
Madonna University is a private, non-profit, Catholic university located in suburban Livonia, Michigan, on the western perimeter of metropolitan Detroit. Conducted by the Felician Sisters, it has extension campuses in Southwest Detroit, Orchard Lake, Michigan Madonna University is a private,...
to complete his schooling that was interrupted by his service in Vietnam. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice
Criminal justice
Criminal Justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts...
in May 2006. Gregory married his wife, Yvonne, in 1978. They live in Southfield
Southfield, Michigan
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which 0.04% is water. The main branch of the River Rouge runs through Southfield. The city is bounded to the south by Eight Mile Road, its western border is Inkster Road, and to the east it is bounded by Greenfield Road...
and have six adult children, Lawrence, Troi, Vanessa, Vincent, Cortney, and Kristen. They have five grandchildren.
Political career
In 1998, Vincent Gregory ran for a seat on the Oakland County Commission. He won and served as commissioner for the 21st district, which includes northeast SouthfieldSouthfield, Michigan
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which 0.04% is water. The main branch of the River Rouge runs through Southfield. The city is bounded to the south by Eight Mile Road, its western border is Inkster Road, and to the east it is bounded by Greenfield Road...
, Lathrup Village
Lathrup Village, Michigan
Lathrup Village is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,075 at the 2010 census. This city is completely surrounded by the city of Southfield. The I-696 / Reuther Freeway goes through nearly the east-west center of town, and Southfield Road goes nearly...
, and Berkley
Berkley, Michigan
Berkley is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is an inner suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the total population was 14,970.-Downtown, Dream Cruise, etc.:...
. He retired from the commission in 2008.
In 2008, he announced his candidacy for the 35th State House District, which was to be vacated by then Rep. Paul Condino, who was term limited. Gregory won the Democratic Primary with about 60% of the vote and went on to easily defeat Republican Katie Koppin in the 2008 General Election. He received 41,017 votes, more than any other candidate for the State House of Representatives in Michigan. The 35th District is majority African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
and overwhelmingly Democratic.
He is currently seeking election to the 14th State Senate District for the seat vacated by term limited State Senator Gilda Jacobs
Gilda Jacobs
Gilda Z. Jacobs was a Democratic member of the Michigan Senate, representing the 14th District from 2003 through 2010. The mostly suburban district is in southeastern Oakland County, and includes the cities of Farmington Hills, Huntington Woods, Southfield, and Oak Park. Jacobs was a member of the...
.
Electoral history
- 2008 election for State House
- Vincent Gregory (D), 88%
- Katie Koppin (R), 11%
- 2008 Democratic Primary election for State House
- Vincent Gregory (D), 60%
- Faith Shepherd (D), 34%