When Robert Gray announced he would run for mayor of Kalamazoo on a $1 salary, the city took notice. But Gray insists this campaign isn’t about a paycheck or even a title. It’s about presence, integrity, and putting community first.
In this Clutch Justice Q&A, Gray opens up about his faith, his grassroots approach, and his vision for Kalamazoo.
Q: Your decision to run for mayor with a $1 salary is a powerful symbol. What inspired that gesture, and what do you hope it represents to the people of Kalamazoo?
Robert Gray:
In 2023, I was sitting on my couch when God told me to go be a teacher at the Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries. I didn’t have credentials, but He said, “Go, and I’ll show you.”
I taught a basic math class for eight months, then created a workforce development class and taught that too, for free. Later, I taught at the Recovery Institute of Southwest Michigan and then at Kalamazoo State Hospital, where 40 students participated and 15 graduated. This July, I started a language arts class there that’s still going.
So when God gave me the solution to gun violence and told me to run for mayor, I understood it was another way of giving back freely. The $1 salary symbolizes that service. I don’t do this for money; I do it because I’m a vessel for what Kalamazoo needs.
Q: You’ve described yourself as “a teacher, not a politician.” What does that identity mean to you, and how does it influence your approach to leadership?
God has been using me as a teacher; to the homeless, to those in recovery, to patients struggling with mental illness, and to high school students. That’s leadership training from the ground up. It’s not about politics. It’s about listening, showing up, and empowering people. That’s the kind of leadership I believe Kalamazoo deserves
Q: You’ve spent years doing community work—teaching, mentoring, and working with people on society’s margins. How have those experiences shaped your priorities in this campaign?
They’ve shaped everything. My campaign is grassroots, on the streets, face-to-face, hearing people’s needs and concerns. I don’t want to lead from a distance; I want to lead from within the community.
Q: Police presence alone, you’ve said, “might make folks feel safer,” but it won’t end gun violence. What comprehensive strategies do you propose to address the root causes of violence in Kalamazoo?
I haven’t shared my solution publicly yet. But I promise this: if I don’t win, I will hand it over to whoever does. This is about saving lives. Period. I won’t run off with the answer.
Q: You run the “Power Group,” speak in schools, support reentry programs, and do advocacy work—all for free. How sustainable is that model, and how does it inform your campaign’s approach to public service?
I’m a member of the Power Group, not the leader. But yes, I’ve given everything freely. It’s not about me—it’s about God. When the sun shines, it shines on everyone. I’m no different from anyone else. That’s the model of service I bring to this campaign.
Q: Having lived through poverty and experienced violence, addiction, and incarceration, how do you leverage your personal journey to connect with and serve constituents?
To sum it up, my life is about saving lives. Every mistake I’ve made, every hardship I’ve lived through, is now a tool to connect with someone else who’s struggling. That’s the bridge between me and the people I want to serve.
Q: What do you envision for Kalamazoo’s future if you win office—or even if you don’t win?
I believe I’m going to win. But win or lose, the spark is the same: make Kalamazoo safe again, revive downtown, and make a way for the homeless. Kalamazoo is destined to be great, and I want to help it get there.
Q: You’re intentionally distancing yourself from big donors, PACs, and high-cost campaign consultants. How do you build trust and visibility without the traditional political machinery?
By being out there with the people, not above them. Listening to their concerns, not pushing mine. That’s how you change the landscape of Kalamazoo politics. Grassroots, person to person, heart to heart.
Q: The article says this campaign is “not about a win or a title.” Looking beyond a potential loss, how do you plan to ensure your message continues to influence local politics?
It is about winning—God told me to run—but it’s not about the title. I don’t want it, don’t need it. The real reason I’m here is to reduce gun violence and stop senseless deaths. That’s the mission, no matter what.
Q: You completed all but 12 credits toward a degree in pre-marketing at WMU. How has your near-degree experience in business education shaped your perspective on leadership and civic engagement?
Those marketing strategies I learned have been vital to my campaign. Even without the degree, the lessons stuck. I left school because my daughter was born with spina bifida, stage-four kidney disease, and one kidney. For six years we were in and out of hospitals every few months. I had to choose between staying in school or doing all I could to save her life. I chose her.
Now she’s turning 14 this year, and we haven’t been back in the hospital for 6 or 7 years. Praise God. That experience taught me everything about priorities, sacrifice, and resilience. It’s why I fight the way I do for this community.
Support Robert Gray’s run and consider voting for him on November 4, 2025.
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🗳️ Check out who’s running for local office in 2025: MLive Election Coverage – Kalamazoo Area Candidates
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