Shavar Jeffries and Ras Baraka Cast Their Ballots


Newark mayoral candidate Shavar Jeffries walks out of a voting booth on Tuesday. AP

Voters today are picking a permanent replacement for Cory Booker, the mayor who elevated Newark and his own brand though the city still faces steep challenges on the issues of crime, education and municipal finances.

Ras Baraka, son of the late poet Amiri Baraka, is known as a radical, preaching on the street corner about revolution. But in truth, he represents the status quo in Newark, which for decades has been unable to shake itself loose from a failing school system and epidemic of violent crime.

NEWARK - Newark mayoral candidate Shavar Jeffries spoke on Friday about how to support the city's small businesses four days before the May 13 municipal election.

NEWARK — One is a municipal councilman and high school principal, son of a celebrated and controversial black poet, who negotiated a truce among this city’s gangs and urged them to fight a white conspiracy and “seize power, block by block, city by city, place by place.”

NEWARK, N.J.(CBSNewYork) — Newark is getting ready to pick its path in the post-Cory Booker era.

On May 13, voters will head to the polls for the first time since their mayor moved on the U.S. Senate, and as the election looms a battle is brewing between the two main candidates.

The all-out street brawl for mayor of Newark, which concludes with next Tuesday’s election, is over more than control of a proud, troubled city. It’s also the latest round of a long-running national clash between old and new generations of black political leaders.

Demonstrates Widening Support in Newark’s Latino Community

NEWARK, NJ – May 7, 2014 – Demonstrating widening support in Newark’s Latino community, mayoral candidate Shavar Jeffries today received the endorsement of Essex County Freeholder Rolando Bobadilla.

 Jeffries Kicks Off #Honorthymother Campaign

NEWARK, NJ – May 5, 2014 – Actress, director, producer and activist Eva Longoria endorsed mayoral candidate Shavar Jeffries today during the kick off of his #honorthymother campaign, a weeklong series of events culminating with a Mother’s Day event reminding people to honor their mothers by working for a better Newark.