Sharpe James
Sharpe James | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 1987 | |
| Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 29th district | |
| In office June 21, 1999 – January 8, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Wynona Lipman |
| Succeeded by | Teresa Ruiz |
| 37th Mayor of Newark | |
| In office July 1, 1986 – June 30, 2006 | |
| 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 in which 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.