Former Mayor Denied as Dozens of Candidates Vie for 10 Positions
By Walter Elliott
NEWARK – Qualifying for Newark’s May 10 nonpartisan mayor and council elections may not be solely determined by City Clerk Kenneth Louis and his office staff.
While Louis’ staff count and verify signatures on petitions filed by 32 candidates before the 4 p.m. March 8 deadline at City Hall, a 33rd candidate may be appealing to a New Jersey Superior Court judge here at a to-be-scheduled hearing.
Sharpe James, who had filed 2,777 signed petitions – 1,133 more than the 1,644 at-large minimum – is seeking to overturn Louis’ March 2 decision to refuse them. The former Central Ward Councilman, Mayor and State Senator is attempting a run for one of four at-large council seats.
Louis, in a letter to James, cited N.J. Superior Court Judge Linda Fienberg’s 2008 order that barred the 1986-2006 mayor from future public office holding.
Fienberg’s forfeiture order was part of James’ federal sentencing to 18 months’ prison time for fraud.
James was convicted for “deprivation of honest service” while in office. He was accused of allowing then-mistress Tamika Riley of buying two city-owned properties and her reselling them at a profit.
What James was convicted of was for not telling city officials and employees involved with the sale of his relationship with Riley. U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge William Martini, who presided over James’ trial, cited dishonest service in his sentencing.
A U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled, in late 2008, that reversed James’ dishonest service conviction but let the other three bribery conviction counts stand.
James and his attorney, Thomas Ashley, of Newark, are arguing that Feinberg’s forfeiture order was therefore invalid.
Louis, in his letter, said he had been waiting for “a U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned Judge Fienberg’s order” to come from James. They were referring to a 2010 SCOTUS ruling on former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling that “dishonest service does not constitute a crime unless it involved a kickback or a bribe.”
There is a later, similar 2016 SCOTUS ruling that overturned the conviction of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell.
“I’ve requested details of the said order during every conversation and you agreed to send it to me,” wrote Louis to James. “As of this date, (May 3) I’m still not in receipt of this decision.”
James, should a judge see the matter his way in the coming days, would then be added to the roster of between 23 certified fellow candidates onto the May 10 ballot. That count may grow should the petitions of another seven candidates pass muster.
Louis and his staff are verifying and counting signatures so that a population percentage-based minimum is at least reached.
Besides the 1,644 minimum for at-large council and mayor. Each ward has its own council minimums. Central Ward Council candidates need at least 349 valid signatures for certification and East Ward candidates 185.
The North Ward requires 356 signatures, the South Ward 393 and the West Ward 362.
All candidates must be at least 18 years old and have been a resident of a ward for at least the past year.
Getting candidates qualified and certified for the ballot began when the clerk’s office distributed petitions to 51 overall candidates on Feb. 8.
Newark, Orange, Irvington and Belleville are among several municipalities that are holding nonpartisan elections May 10. New Jersey’s largest city, unlike others in “Local Talk” land, has all 10 of its seats – for the mayor, the five ward council members and four at-large council members – up for voters’ choice at once.
Participating registered city voters will be voting in successors at least in the East, South and West wards and for an at-large council seat.
MAYOR
- Ras J. Baraka (incumbent, Newark Forward 2022) Former Deputy Mayor/South Ward Councilman/At-Large Councilman/Central High School Principal is seeking his third term
- Sheila A. Montague (Open the Door.). Essex County College professor and former Newark Public Schools teacher is a founding member of Parents United for Local School Education and Changing the Lens Together.
The following are pending certification as of press time:
- Donna Jackson. City monitor, second-generation community activist.
- Debra Salters (A Better Newark for All.). Former Newark Board of Education Student Representative.
- Received petitions: Lateerah J. Brown, Anthony A. Diaz (withdrew candidacy via Instagram), Shirley McLean, Salvatore G. Gencarelli.
AT-LARGE COUNCIL
- Incumbent Eddie Osborne had received petitions.
- C. Lawrence Crump (Incumbent, Newark Forward). The attorney is seeking his first electoral victory. Mildred Crump’s relative and former chief of staff was appointed when the then-Council President resigned for health reasons last year.
- Carlos G. Gonzalez (incumbent, Newark Forward) Seeking his sixth term.
- Luis Quintana (incumbent, Newark Forward). “Dean of the Council,” former Deputy Mayor and interim or acting Mayor seeking his eighth term.
- Rev. Louise Scott-Rountree (Newark Forward) Mayor’s Director of Clergy Affairs.
(Pending certification)
- Dr. Elaine A. Aquil. 35-year chiropractor, health care provider.
- Dannisha J. Clyburn
- Sharpe James (See above.)
- Khalil T. Kettles. Essex County Parks League principal officer is making his second run.
- Received petitions: Nadirah A. Brown, Linda McDonald Carter, Joy Bembry Freeman, Ronald J. Gourdine, Blanca Lopez, Dion C. McCutcheon, Jimmie L. White, Jr.
CENTRAL WARD
- LaMonica R. McIver (incumbent, Newark Forward). Seeking her second term.
(Pending certification)
- Shawn McCray. CHS Head Boys Basketball Coach, Zoo Crew Basketball teacher and coach is making his third run.
- Petitions distributed: Czezre Adams.
EAST WARD
- Incumbent Augusto Amador had declined re-election.
- Anthony Campos (He’s with Us!). Retired Newark Police Chief/Police Director/Public Safety Director narrowly lost to Amador in 2016 runoff election.
- Jonathan T. Seabra (I’m with You!). Supermarket chain executive making second run.
- Michael J. Silva (Newark Forward). Former Newark Police officer and detective.
- Louis Weber. (Revive the East Ward.) Executive Secretary of NPD’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Unit.
NORTH WARD
- Anibal Ramos, Jr. (incumbent, Newark Forward) N.J. Department of Labor is seeking his fifth term.
SOUTH WARD
- Incumbent John Sharpe James is not running.
- Terrance L. Bankston. (It’s Time for a Change.) The former Newark Youth One Stop Career Center is Bloomfield College’s Director for Student Leadership, Engagement and Special Programs.
- Christina G. Cherry. (Ready to Lead!) South 17th and 18th Street Neighborhood Association President is also a mother, disabled veteran and second-generation immigrant.
- Rev. Patrick O. Council (Newark Forward) Former Deputy Mayor of Economic Development is Recreation, Senior Services and Cultural Affairs Director and chairman of the South Ward Democratic Committee
- Douglas Freeman. Weequahic Park Sports Authority President runs several youth programs in the Essex County park.
- Trenton Jones. Founder of Love Newark First, outreaching to city residents with supplies and resources.
- Cynthia Truitt-Rease. South Ward Economic Development Corporation emergency services representative.
- Altarik White. (Newark’s South Ward Better Together.) Founder, Executive Director of Leaders for Life NJ outreach.
- Petitions distributed: Michael A. Hobbs, Jr.
WEST WARD
- Incumbent Joseph McCallum, due to a legal matter, waived re-election.
- Lyndon F. Brown, (A Proven Leader with a History of Service.) High School Academic Program founder.
- Oscar S. James II South Ward Councilman 2006-10 is president of Chadwick Capital.
- Lavita Johnson (Time for Unity) is the Mayor’s Office of People’s assembly assistant manager.
- Dupree L. Kelly (Newark Forward) One-third of the “Lords of the Underground” hip-hop trio is executive director of 211 Community Impact.
- Michelle Lyn Middleton. (Plans to Prosper.) Former NYPD officer is vice president of a firm that lobbies municipal and federal government for funding nonprofit clients.
- Chigozie Onyema. (A Better Ward is Possible.) Lawyer-turned-director and assistant commissioner in N.J. Department of Community Affairs’ policy and regulation affairs unit.
- Petitions distributed: Flohisha Johnson, Tawanna Roebuck, Shakima K. Thomas.
Those who want to participate in May 10’s elections are to register or transfer their registrations to City Clerk Chris Durkin on or before April 19. May 3 is the last date to apply for a Vote By Mail Ballot by mail. Details are found at essexclerk.com.
