NEWARK, N.J. โ Sharpe James, a former longtime mayor of Newark known for his dynamic political style that was unfortunately overshadowed by a later corruption charge, has passed away at the age of 89. His passing was confirmed on Sunday evening by his son, John Sharpe James, who has also served Newark as a City Council member.
Sharpe James embarked on his political journey in 1970 and never lost an election throughout his career. He began his service by securing a seat on the Newark City Council as a Democrat. In 1986, he leapfrogged to the position of mayor by defeating Kenneth Gibson, who had maintained that office for 16 years before him. James would go on to serve four more terms, choosing not to run for re-election in 2006. Earlier, in 2002, he faced a fierce but ultimately successful re-election campaign against then-City Councilman Cory Booker, an event that was documented in the Oscar-nominated film โStreet Fight.โ
Towards the end of his political career, Sharpe James found himself embroiled in a federal investigation and was convicted in 2008 for misusing his influence as mayor to benefit his girlfriend by selling her city-owned land. This led to an 18-month stint in federal prison. His departure from the mayoral office opened the pathway for Cory Booker, who succeeded him and is now a U.S. Senator.
In response to Jamesโ passing, Booker expressed his condolences, acknowledging James as a cherished leader who dedicated twenty years to Newark as mayor and nearly four decades to public service. โI am deeply saddened by his passing,โ Booker said in a statement.
During his tenure as mayor, James came to be known as a powerful and larger-than-life figure in New Jersey politics. He championed significant projects in Newark, including efforts to revitalize the downtown area and the establishment of a sports arena. The Prudential Center, which opened in 2007, was a result of these initiatives.
James was often criticized for what detractors described as a flamboyant and self-indulgent leadership style. Allegations emerged portraying him as living extravagantly on taxpayer money, with claims of excessive spending on city credit cards for personal ventures. Additionally, he faced accusations of leading a corrupt political machine, manipulating campaign strategies, and allegedly intimidating his opponentsโ supporters by utilizing the police force for personal agendas. However, James consistently denied these allegations.
Sharpe James also played a significant role in state politics, having been appointed to the New Jersey Senate in 1999 following the death of Sen. Wynona Lipman. He subsequently won the election to complete her term and was re-elected for two full terms thereafter. Throughout this period, he maintained his role as mayor, a dual capacity allowed by New Jersey law, as pointed out by his supporters.