Sharpe James, a five-term mayor of Newark, has died. He was 89 years old.
James, who served as mayor between 1986 and 2006, died Sunday at an elder care facility in West Orange, according to his son John Sharpe James, a former Newark city councilman. No cause of death was released.
James is credited with helping revitalize Newark with new building developments and — in his own words — taking the city from “urban blight to urban bright.”
However, rumors swirled about his luxury lifestyle and possible corruption and eventually led to federal charges in 2007. He was eventually convicted of fraud and sentenced to 27 months in prison.
“In his 20 years in office as Mayor, Sharpe James was many things: a warrior for our city, a unifier for its people, a powerful force to launch development like New Jersey Performing Arts Center and the Prudential Center, and a strong advocate for Newark and its people,” current Newark mayor Ras Baraka said in a statement.
“He was also an outstanding educator and an inspiration to generations of Newark residents. Our relationship included competition, conflict, and collaboration, and through it all, helped define me, my values, and my aspirations for this city. The Newark we live in is, in many ways, a city he created.”
Sen. Cory Booker, who ran a mayoral campaign against James in 2002 and became his successor in 2006, also released a statement.
“Sharpe James was a beloved pillar of our shared community, serving the City of Newark for two decades as mayor and giving nearly four decades of his life to public service. I am deeply saddened by his passing, and I extend my most heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew him throughout Newark.”
The pair’s 2002 face-off was the subject of the Oscar-nominated documentary “Street Fight.”
James was born on Feb. 20, 1936, in Jacksonville, Fla., but grew up in Newark. His mother managed and later owned a restaurant there before obtaining a nursing degree from Beth Israel Medical Center.
He starred academically at South Side High School (which was later renamed Malcolm X Shabazz High School) and was on the track team. James graduated from Montclair State College (now Montclair State University) in 1958 before a stint in the Army. After his time in the service, he received a master’s degree in school administration from Springfield College in Massachusetts.
He began teaching and community organizing in Newark. At one point he taught physical education while also representing the South Ward as city councilman.
In his first city-wide election, he ousted Kenneth Gibson, who had been elected as Newark’s first Black mayor in 1970. He became a state senator in 1999 as well, deciding against seeking another term in that position in 2007. Weeks later, he was federally indicted for various schemes from his time in office.
