Ras Baraka Is Elected Mayor of Newark
By JOSH DAWSEY
May 13, 2014 8:47 p.m. ET
Wall Street Journal
Ras Baraka, a frequent and impassioned critic of Cory Booker who promised to reshape many of Newark's policies, was elected mayor Tuesday night after a close and often nasty campaign.
Mr. Baraka had more than 53% of the vote with 96% of precincts reporting. Shavar Jeffries, who was viewed as a more moderate candidate and closer politically to Mr. Booker, conceded the race.
"Out of the street projects to City Hall," Mr. Baraka said, nodding to his upbringing in the crime-plagued South Ward and his father, the celebrated poet Amiri Baraka. "... Watch out, America. Here comes Newark. Here comes Newark. Here comes Newark."
The election marked a big victory for the state's influential public-sector unions, which heavily supported Mr. Baraka with money and volunteers, and a setback for charter-school backers, who largely supported Mr. Jeffries. It was also a win for Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, who backed Mr. Baraka and is eyeing a run for governor in 2017.
In Mr. Baraka's address, he vowed to say "goodbye to the bosses," fight for public education and change the city's crime-plagued streets. "We have to be the mayor that saves our city," he said.
At a raucous campaign party Tuesday evening, complete with rappers, cowbells, maracas and a live band, people stood on chairs and danced in the aisles. Mr. Baraka often yelled to be heard over a roaring crowd.
"What's gonna happen," the band sang. "The city's gonna change hands. And who you gonna vote for, Ras Baraka."
Several blocks away, Mr. Jeffries had a much more subdued party, with no live music and largely empty bleachers.
Mr. Baraka's leadership will soon be tested. Crime has risen since 2008, with murders rising to a two-decade high of 111 in 2013. The state Attorney General's office sent a special crew of state troopers into the city earlier this year to stem the tide of murders. Mr. Baraka represented the South Ward on the city's council.
Newark faces a budget deficit that some officials have estimated at more than $90 million this year, and the state soon may take over the city's finances.
The city's school system, struggling with budgetary problems and low test scores, is under state monitorship. Newark's unemployment remains in the double-digits, much higher than many other parts of New Jersey.
Mr. Baraka has called for the ouster of Cami Anderson, the embattled superintendent, who was supported by Mr. Booker and appointed by Gov. Chris Christie. Earlier Tuesday, Mr. Christie said he had never met Mr. Baraka.
"She's already feeling the heat," said Jonathan Wharton, a political-science professor at Stevens Institute and a close watcher of Mr. Booker. "This shows Cory Booker's longevity didn't last long here."
Communications Workers of America, a big public-sector union, supported Mr. Baraka and sent hundreds of employees into the community to encourage voting Tuesday. He was also backed by the labor-connected New Jersey Working Families organization.
Mr. Baraka left the stage after a raucous speech without mentioning the unions but soon returned to especially thank them, in a move that reconvened a crowd that had somewhat dispersed.
"Six months ago, when we endorsed Ras Baraka, I knew we'd be here," said Hetty Rosenstein, state director of the Communications Workers of America, who said unions had contributed almost $500,000 to Mr. Baraka for the race. "You're seeing a re-emergence of progressive, grass-roots politics winning over corporate power."
The two candidates had very different styles and backgrounds, though both grew up in the South Ward. Mr. Jeffries, 39, a civil rights lawyer, isn't as closely tied to Newark politics. His mother was murdered and his father abandoned him. He lived with his grandmother before winning scholarships to Duke University and to Columbia Law School and wasn't as closely involved in the city's politics.
Mr. Baraka was once a more radical street politician who adopted a calmer approach during this election.
The race had been particularly nasty, and state officials were watching Tuesday for misdeeds. Millions were spent in out-of-state contributions, and both campaigns accused the other of dishonesty. But Paul Loriquet, a spokesman for the state's attorney general, said "nothing was out of the ordinary" at the polls. There were no reports of major problems with polling machines.
By Tuesday night's end, Mr. Baraka had welcomed Mr. Jeffries' supporters into the fold and said, "We all got a lot of work to do."
—Heather Haddon and Sharon Adarlo contributed to this article.
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| Ras Baraka elected mayor of Newark, New Jersey. |
May 13, 2014 8:47 p.m. ET
Wall Street Journal
Ras Baraka, a frequent and impassioned critic of Cory Booker who promised to reshape many of Newark's policies, was elected mayor Tuesday night after a close and often nasty campaign.
Mr. Baraka had more than 53% of the vote with 96% of precincts reporting. Shavar Jeffries, who was viewed as a more moderate candidate and closer politically to Mr. Booker, conceded the race.
"Out of the street projects to City Hall," Mr. Baraka said, nodding to his upbringing in the crime-plagued South Ward and his father, the celebrated poet Amiri Baraka. "... Watch out, America. Here comes Newark. Here comes Newark. Here comes Newark."
The election marked a big victory for the state's influential public-sector unions, which heavily supported Mr. Baraka with money and volunteers, and a setback for charter-school backers, who largely supported Mr. Jeffries. It was also a win for Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, who backed Mr. Baraka and is eyeing a run for governor in 2017.
In Mr. Baraka's address, he vowed to say "goodbye to the bosses," fight for public education and change the city's crime-plagued streets. "We have to be the mayor that saves our city," he said.
At a raucous campaign party Tuesday evening, complete with rappers, cowbells, maracas and a live band, people stood on chairs and danced in the aisles. Mr. Baraka often yelled to be heard over a roaring crowd.
"What's gonna happen," the band sang. "The city's gonna change hands. And who you gonna vote for, Ras Baraka."
Several blocks away, Mr. Jeffries had a much more subdued party, with no live music and largely empty bleachers.
Mr. Baraka's leadership will soon be tested. Crime has risen since 2008, with murders rising to a two-decade high of 111 in 2013. The state Attorney General's office sent a special crew of state troopers into the city earlier this year to stem the tide of murders. Mr. Baraka represented the South Ward on the city's council.
Newark faces a budget deficit that some officials have estimated at more than $90 million this year, and the state soon may take over the city's finances.
The city's school system, struggling with budgetary problems and low test scores, is under state monitorship. Newark's unemployment remains in the double-digits, much higher than many other parts of New Jersey.
Mr. Baraka has called for the ouster of Cami Anderson, the embattled superintendent, who was supported by Mr. Booker and appointed by Gov. Chris Christie. Earlier Tuesday, Mr. Christie said he had never met Mr. Baraka.
"She's already feeling the heat," said Jonathan Wharton, a political-science professor at Stevens Institute and a close watcher of Mr. Booker. "This shows Cory Booker's longevity didn't last long here."
Communications Workers of America, a big public-sector union, supported Mr. Baraka and sent hundreds of employees into the community to encourage voting Tuesday. He was also backed by the labor-connected New Jersey Working Families organization.
Mr. Baraka left the stage after a raucous speech without mentioning the unions but soon returned to especially thank them, in a move that reconvened a crowd that had somewhat dispersed.
"Six months ago, when we endorsed Ras Baraka, I knew we'd be here," said Hetty Rosenstein, state director of the Communications Workers of America, who said unions had contributed almost $500,000 to Mr. Baraka for the race. "You're seeing a re-emergence of progressive, grass-roots politics winning over corporate power."
The two candidates had very different styles and backgrounds, though both grew up in the South Ward. Mr. Jeffries, 39, a civil rights lawyer, isn't as closely tied to Newark politics. His mother was murdered and his father abandoned him. He lived with his grandmother before winning scholarships to Duke University and to Columbia Law School and wasn't as closely involved in the city's politics.
Mr. Baraka was once a more radical street politician who adopted a calmer approach during this election.
The race had been particularly nasty, and state officials were watching Tuesday for misdeeds. Millions were spent in out-of-state contributions, and both campaigns accused the other of dishonesty. But Paul Loriquet, a spokesman for the state's attorney general, said "nothing was out of the ordinary" at the polls. There were no reports of major problems with polling machines.
By Tuesday night's end, Mr. Baraka had welcomed Mr. Jeffries' supporters into the fold and said, "We all got a lot of work to do."
—Heather Haddon and Sharon Adarlo contributed to this article.
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