Los Angeles – Today Rev. Dr. Cecil “Chip” Murray, the longtime former pastor of First African Methodist Episcopal Church (FAME) and one of Los Angeles’ most well-respected faith leaders and statesmen, announced he has endorsed Wendy Greuel for mayor.
Greuel has also earned the backing of LA Focus on the Word, a monthly faith newspaper.
Rev. Murray joined FAME in 1977 when it was a small congregation of 250. Under his 27 years of leadership, Murray transformed the FAME into a thriving, 18,000 person church that took an active role in the community.
FAME created more than 40 task forces as part of a multi-million dollar community and economic development program that tackled issues of unemployment, job training, homelessness, and public health.
When Greuel was an executive at DreamWorks studios, she partnered with Murray to create a job training program that trained Angelenos in low-income communities for jobs in Hollywood.
"Wendy Greuel understands the importance of building coalitions across our city, and she knows how to partner with the faith community to confront the challenges facing Los Angeles,” said Murray. “When Wendy was working at DreamWorks, she joined with our church and others to create a program that trained workers for jobs in the entertainment industry, and that’s the kind of mayor Wendy will be – a mayor for all of LA. I’m proud to support her campaign.”
“Chip Murray has redefined what it means to be a faith leader in Los Angeles. He’s had a deep commitment not only to the churches he’s led, but to the communities he’s served,” said Greuel. “Chip has dedicated himself to empowering Angelenos and fighting for civil rights, and he has brought jobs, housing and health care where we need it most. I have been proud to partner with him to bring jobs and development to our communities, and I look forward to continuing to work with him as mayor.”
As pastor, national leaders including presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush visited FAME and spoke to Murray’s congregation. He now chairs the USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement and the USC John R. Tansey Chair of Christian Ethics in the School of Religion.
Greuel has a strong base of support in the African-American community, including endorsements by Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, Senior Pastor-Teacher of Faithful Central Bible Church, Our Weekly, Olympic Gold Medalist Rafer Johnson, Public Safety Leader and Police Reformer John Mack, and the Black Los Angeles Young Democrats.
Greuel has brought together a strong coalition of support from public safety workers, major business groups, and labor organizations, including significant endorsements from the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs (ALADS), the Professional Peace Officers Association (PPOA), the Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA) PAC, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce's LA JOBS PAC, the County Federation of Labor (BizFed), and over 20 labor organizations representing tens of thousands of working men and women across Los Angeles. Greuel is also endorsed by the Los Angeles News Group (which owns the LA Daily News), the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project, and the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP).
