As part of our “City Leaders” series, we’ll be bringing you interviews with leaders who are helping to drive change and keep our city thriving in what continues to be difficult and trying times.
To start, we thought it was appropriate to sit down with our mayor, Chris Gray. Chris was elected in 2022 and has been partnering with city council members to move open projects to closure while spearheading new projects that will greatly benefit our city.
I found Chris to be engaging, forthcoming and very approachable. A great leader surrounds themselves with people who can help them get the job done, pushing any ego’s to the side in the process. Chris definitely fits this mold and is happy to discuss the qualities of his fellow compatriots. A self proclaimed “country boy,” he’s an unapologetic man of God who puts family first. He has a deep love for our city and he uses this passion to drive decisions on a daily basis.
Originally from Matthews, Chris, his wife Annie and their three kids (one son and two daughters) moved to Tega Cay in 2002. He started his education at Central Piedmont Community College before attaining his degree from UNC Charlotte. A VP of Operations for Bryant Electric Repair and Construction, the Board of Directors at BERCO are very supportive of his position as mayor. This has allowed him the flexibility to attend events, functions and manage the many aspects of city business that may come his way.
Seeing a need for a conservative voice, Chris decided to run for mayor when there wasn’t anyone else on the ballot that shared his same values. In his words,”there was no one else to step up, so I stepped up. I’ve lived here for twenty years and I haven’t done anything to give back to the community other than coaching for 15 years. If this is a way I can give back, I’m in.” When asked what was the best part about being mayor, “helping people” was his response.
Although he’s not a politician by trade, Chris has experience working with developers (Birkdale Village in Charlotte and various projects in Harrisonburg were some of the examples shared). He’s used this experience to work with city council members and project developers to position the city for success while keeping expenses and potential budget pitfalls to a minimum.
One of the projects he’s helping to drive forward is main street. Whereas his counterpart for mayor wanted to bring light rail to Tega Cay, Chris saw a vision to bring a main street to the city. He credits an internal voice sounding a lot like his father with the idea, which happened the night before a candidate forum (debate) during the election. He believes this is what won him the mayor’s office, as this was a shared vision by many others who were excited about the concept.
No longer just a vision, the main street development is scheduled to break ground on Dam Road in early 2024. Main street is an integral part but the project will include so much more. A mix of commercial retail, single family homes, carriage homes, a 65+ community and live/work units, the massive development will span from the middle of Dam Road all the way to the top of Stonecrest/Serenity Point. The inclusion of walking trails, cart paths and a park will provide further outdoor space and shopping for residents both inside and outside our city.
When discussing his proudest achievement thus far as mayor, Chris first gave credit to a group of women who had approached him with a solution for the deer overpopulation issue.
The group, now known as the Tega Cay Wildlife Conservation Society had a new idea to use a drug called PZP to control the population without harming the deer. Clemson University is leading the charge to gain approval for the drug. Once approved, a method of “darting and dyeing” (the deer are shot with darts containing the medicine and a dye pack to confirm placement) will provide a more cost effective and humane way to care for the overpopulation. “If I can bring the city together on issues like the deer, things that would pull us apart, that will be my greatest accomplishment,” said Chris.
Asked what residents could do to best help him and city council members, Chris preached patience. “There are things that the council does that take time. We can’t move at the same pace as private industry, we move at the speed of the public sector. All the things you want and elected us to do are going to happen, it just takes time.”
A member of Cornerstone Community Church, Chris is quick to tell his story of redemption. He heaps praise on his pastor for being a great sounding board while keeping him honest and humble. His foundational belief in God is easy to see when asked about the biggest challenge facing our city: “Staying Tega Cay and continuing to isolate ourselves from the challenges experienced outside our city while maintaining our morals, our values and our people.We need to get back to the bible and the values associated with it.”
With a term running through 2026, Chris Gray appears to be a man on a mission. His love of Tega Cay, his family, country and spiritual beliefs drive him to be the best version of himself. His accommodating and affable nature make him a great steward for our community.
What makes Tega Cay a special place to live? “It’s the people. We care about each other, that’s Tega Cay.” Next time you see Chris Gray out and about in the community, have a conversation and get to know the man. Pretty quickly you’ll come to realize he’s also one of the reasons our community is special.
His beach house and golf cart are a play on his last name “Graytful.” No play on words are needed, we’re simply grateful to have him sitting in a chair of leadership on our behalf.
