Newark Mayor Cory Booker won reelection to a second term today, garnering nearly 60 percent of the vote in a four-way race.
But Booker's coattails were not enough to help his runningmate in the the city's South Ward, where Councilman Oscar James II lost to challenger Ras Baraka.
Baraka, the principal of Newark's Central High School, is the son of playwright and former New Jersey state poet lauret Amiri Baraka and has deep roots in the South Ward.
In the Central Ward, Councilman Charlie Bell will face a run off election on June 15 against of Darrin S. Sharif, who finished second. With 31 out of 32 districts counted, Bell garnered 44 percent of the vote, falling shy of the 50 percent needed for victory.
The most serious challenge to Booker came from former Essex County Prosecutor Cliff Minor. Also seeking the mayoral seat were Yvonne Garrett Moore and Mirna L. White, who together received less than 5 percent of the vote.
"We have come this far because we have stuck together. We have come this far because we put out city before our egos. We have come this far because of our love of community and our willingness to do what is necessary to make a change in our city," Booker told supporters at his election night victory party at The Robert Treat Hotel.
The four incumbent At-Large Council members -- Donald M. Payne Jr., Carlos M. Gonzalez, Mildred C. Crump, and Luis A. Quintana -- all won reelection. They were challenged by Victor Zamora, J. Sharpe James, Carole A. Graves, David T. Blount and Jean Perez.
In the West Ward, Councilman Ronald C. Rice handily won reelection against challengers Maryam Bey and Dereck L. Dillard.
In the East Ward, Councilman Augusto Amador fended off a challenge from Peter F. Pantoliano.
North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos easily defeated challenger Pablo Olivera.
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written by Celeste Bateman, May 12, 2010
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