Sharpe James facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sharpe James
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James speaking to attendees at Rutgers University in 1988
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| Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 29th district |
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| In office June 21, 1999 – January 8, 2008 |
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| Preceded by | Wynona Lipman |
| Succeeded by | Teresa Ruiz |
| 37th Mayor of Newark | |
| In office July 1, 1986 – June 30, 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Kenneth A. Gibson |
| Succeeded by | Cory Booker |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 20, 1936 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | May 11, 2025 (aged 89) West Orange, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Mary Mattison |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater |
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Sharpe James (February 20, 1936 – May 11, 2025) was an American politician from New Jersey. A Democrat, he served as the 37th mayor of Newark from 1986 to 2006 and as a state senator for the 29th legislative district from 1999 to 2008. He was the longest-serving mayor in Newark's history and is a subject of the 2005 feature-film Street Fight, which depicts Newark's 2002 mayoral election where James faced a closer-than-expected challenge from Cory Booker. Once a popular figure in New Jersey politics, his career effectively ended after he was convicted of high-profile corruption charges in 2008.
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Early life and education
James was born in Jacksonville, Florida, on February 20, 1936, the son of Louis and Beulah (née Sharpe) James. His father died before he was born, and his mother re-married and moved to Newark in 1940, where James grew up. He graduated from South Side High School (since renamed as Malcolm X Shabazz High School), earned a B.A. in education from Montclair State University and a M.A. in physical education from Springfield College. He received the 1961 Department of Physiology Award from that school, and later completed postgraduate studies at Washington State University, Columbia University, and Rutgers University. He also served with the U.S. Army in Germany. Prior to politics, James worked as a teacher, athletic director and professor at Essex County College.
Political career
City council
James was first elected to public office in 1970 as a South Ward Councilman. He was reelected to the council in 1974, defeating his sole opponent by a ten-to-one margin. He was elected to a third term in 1978, and in 1982 he became the first ward councilman elected to an at-large seat. As a councilman, he chaired New Jersey's Black and Hispanic delegation. In 1977 he led an effort to halt landings of Concorde jets at Newark International Airport, claiming it would add to air and noise pollution in the area. In 1983, after talk show host Phil Donahue made comments about Newark being "a place foreigners wouldn't want to visit", James demanded an apology. In response, Donahue sent James a letter apologizing for the remark.
Mayor of Newark
On January 30, 1986, James announced he would run for Mayor of Newark to challenge four-term incumbent Kenneth A. Gibson. James won the May 13 election and was sworn into office on July 1 of that year. He was the first Newark mayor to run unopposed when he sought re-election in 1990 and handily won re-election in 1994 and 1998. James became Newark's longest-serving mayor when he was re-elected for an unprecedented fifth term in 2002, a year after being named "Mayor of the Year" by the New Jersey Conference of Mayors. His 2002 reelection campaign, against then-Councilman Cory Booker, was documented in the 2005 feature film Street Fight.
James became known in his early years as mayor for often wearing jogging suits in public and making high-profile efforts to attract development to Downtown Newark. In 1997, Newark saw the completion of the acclaimed New Jersey Performing Arts Center. James became known as an example of "machine politics". He had a reputation for questionable campaign tactics, including alleged use of the police force for his own purposes, intimidating supporters of his opponents and attacking his opponents' heritage.
In 1987 and 1988, James served as the New Jersey chairman of Jesse Jackson's campaign for the 1988 Democratic Party presidential nomination. In December 1992, James was a member of the New Jersey State Electoral College, one of 15 electors casting their votes for the Clinton/Gore ticket.
In 1996, James's chief of staff, Jackie Mattison, was charged in federal court with receiving over $17,000 in bribes from an insurance broker from Millburn. He was later sentenced to 41 months in federal prison. He was released in 2000.
In terms of housing, James' policy in the 1990s was to demolish Newark's massive, but mostly abandoned, housing projects, and replace them with small-scale public housing or market rate middle class residences. Following the September 11 terrorist attacks, James offered to assist nearby Jersey City in providing aid for New York City where the attacks occurred.
In 2006, James championed the relocation of the New Jersey Devils to the City of Newark. The Prudential Center is the newest arena in the Newark metropolitan area. On March 16, James filed for reelection as mayor, but announced eleven days later he would not seek a sixth term.
State senate
In June 1999, while serving as Mayor, James was appointed to the New Jersey Senate to fill out the unexpired term of the late Senator Wynona Lipman, and won election to that seat the following November. He was re-elected for a full term in November 2001 and continued to hold both offices. His Senate district encompassed part of Newark in Essex County and all of the Township of Hillside in Union County.
From 2002 to 2003, James served as Assistant Democratic leader of the senate, and from 2004 to 2005 he served as Assistant Senate Majority leader under Bernard Kenny. He became vice chairman of the Senate budget committee in 2004, serving in that position under Senator Wayne R. Bryant, who was indicted in March 2007 for corruption charges. On April 9, 2007, James announced he would not seek re-election to his State Senate seat.
Post-conviction career
In 2013, James published a 17-chapter book titled Political Prisoner, which he had written in prison. That same year, he advised the election campaign of his son John Sharpe James, who won a seat on the Municipal Council of Newark. That same year James endorsed Cory Booker, a former foe he had defeated in the 2002 Newark mayoral race, in the special election for U.S. Senator to replace the late Frank Lautenberg.
In 2022, James attempted to run for office as an at-large candidate for Newark City Council despite a court order banning him from running a public elected office. His certification was denied by Newark City Clerk Kenneth Louis on March 3, 2022. James attempted to sue after his candidacy was rejected, arguing that while he was prohibited from holding public office, running as a candidate was not prohibited. A judge dismissed his suit and James declined to appeal the dismissal.
Awards and honors
In 1988, James was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Montclair State University, and, in 1991, an Honorary Doctorate from Drew University.
Personal life and death
James and his wife, Mary (née Mattison), had three sons. He died at a care home in West Orange, New Jersey, on May 11, 2025, at the age of 89.
See also
- 2002 Newark mayoral election
- List of mayors of Newark, New Jersey
