[2] From March 1985 to September 1985, Gurley worked as a tax auditor for the District of Columbia Department of Finance and Revenue.

[1][8] Unemployed and living in Anacostia, Gurley ran as a Democratic candidate, challenging Marion Barry's reelection.

[1] Gurley advocated for improvements to the District's prison system and housing department, and he said that Mayor Barry's leadership was "decaying".

[9] Gurley said that businesses in Anacostia needed "money" and "technical assistance" rather than a governmental agency that did little more than "filling office space".

[13] Gurley noted that public schooling was suitable for President Jimmy Carter's daughter but not for Barry's son.

[14] At a meeting of the District of Columbia Ward 6 Democrats, the group decided to endorse Barry for reelection.

[18] At a debate held in March, Gurley advocated for a publicly funded military school for youths in order to prevent drug use.

[19] In Gurley's words, the District should "grab these kids off the street from mothers who don't care" and enroll them at the military academy.

[20] In August, Gurley dropped out of the race in order to run for the Ward 6 seat on the Council of the District of Columbia.

Gurley wanted police officers to walk the streets in order to stop individuals from loitering.

[24] In 2004, Gurley proposed a ballot initiative called "Mr. Bill Cosby’s Age 18 House Rule".

[25] Gurley explained the ballot initiative, saying that "black families still carry as their commandment, is once you reach 18, you're out the house.

[28] Vincent Gray won the Democratic Party primary election for mayor with 54 percent of the vote.

[30] Gurley, Sekou Biddle, former Council member Vincent Orange, and several others filed to run.

[32] Kwame Brown endorsed Biddle for the position, as did Council members Harry Thomas Jr., Mary Cheh, Muriel Bowser, Yvette Alexander, and Marion Barry.

[33] On January 6, 2011, the District of Columbia Democratic State Committee voted to select Biddle as the interim at-large member of the council.

[34] After the District of Columbia Democratic State Committee voted to select Sekou Biddle as the interim at-large member of the council, a special election was announced, to be held on April 26, 2011.

[35][36] Gurley did not appear on the ballot because he did not submit enough valid signatures to the District of Columbia Board of Elections.

[38] In the Democratic Party primary election held in January 2012, Muriel Bowser won with 66 percent of the vote.

[40] Gurley filed to run a special election for the position of Council Chair that was held in November 2012.

[50][51] Gurley and other candidates were invited to speak at a meeting of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, the largest LGBT political organization in the District.

[2] The District of Columbia Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance asked each candidate to answer 12 questions about the group's issues.

[65] Ed Lazere, executive director of the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute, also ran for Chair of the council.

[68] Between 1987 and 1988, Gurley served as the president of the Fairlawn Civic Association, where he helped establish neighborhood patrols.

[70] The group wanted a federally sponsored military academy to be established in the District as an alternative to juvenile detention centers.