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.

Shavar Jeffries and Ras Baraka, the two men vying to be mayor of New Jersey's largest city, have fought a spirited race, some of it fueled by personal attacks and negative advertisements. The state Attorney General's office has dispatched monitors to Newark to address any voting-related legal matters as ballots are cast. Millions of dollars have poured in from outside groups.
Mr. Booker didn't endorse either candidate, though his legacy often has loomed over the race. He left the job to join the U.S. Senate last year.

"This election means everything to Newark," said Jonathan Wharton, a Stevens Institute professor who has studied Mr. Booker. "You have the record of Cory Booker in the balance, the education system and the philanthropy, the public safety part."

Newark's current mayor, Luis Quintana, a council member who is filling out Mr. Booker's unexpired term, isn't seeking the office.

Polls on the contest between Mssrs. Jeffries and Baraka have tightened in recent weeks, and observers say the race is likely to be a tossup. Voter turnout also remains uncertain. There is no national or statewide election to drive voters to the polls, which close at 8 p.m.

On Tuesday morning, a slow but steady trickle of voters streamed to the Vailsburg Branch Library in Newark's West Ward. Streets leading up the polling place were dotted with campaign signs,. Most appeared to be for Ras Baraka and his slate of candidates.

Cynthia Flood, 60 years, who lives in the city's East Ward, said she voted for Mr. Baraka. "Because I know him," she said. "He's been a very vocal politician in the city of Newark. He's interested in saving our kids not only in crime, but in education and business. We need them to be productive citizens."

George Walker, 78, a retired construction worker and a West Ward resident, said he voted for Mr. Jeffries. He said crime was the top issue in the race. "He's a a lawman and I love law people," said Mr. Walker, who referred to Mr. Jeffries' former role as assistant state attorney general. "We need help."

Mrs. Jeffries and Baraka are of the same generation and come from the same neighborhood, the crime-weary South Ward. Beyond that, the two candidates have different backgrounds, positions and styles.


Newark mayoral candidate Ras Baraka is greeted by supporters after casting his vote on Tuesday. AP

Mr. Baraka, a longtime activist, council member and high school principal, is viewed as a sharp departure from Mr. Booker, of whom he has often been critical. He is the son of the late Amiri Baraka, a radical poet, and is known for being a firebrand, though he has cooled considerably this election.
He has tried to negotiate with warring gangs, negotiating truces and writing letters on behalf of a convicted gang leader who he says wanted to help others. Mr. Baraka has called for the dismissal of Cami Anderson, the schools superintendent whose policies have become a flash point in the race.

Mr. Jeffries, a civil rights lawyer, isn't as closely tied to Newark politics. His mother was murdered and his father abandoned him, so growing up he lived with his grandmother before winning scholarships to Duke University then to Columbia Law School.

His criticism of Ms. Anderson and Mr. Booker has proved more measured than Mr. Baraka's. He has attacked Mr. Baraka for his actions on crime and has tied the area's violence to his leadership and policies.

Although Newark has gained momentum and development in recent years, both men would as mayor face a range of challenges.

Crime has risen since 2008, with murders rising to a two-decade high of 111 in 2013. The state Attorney General's office sent a special crew of state troopers into the city earlier this year to stem the tide of murders.

Newark faces a budget deficit that some officials have estimated at more than $90 million this year, and the state soon may take over the city's finances.

The city's school system, struggling with budgetary problems and low test scores, is under state monitorship. Newark's unemployment remains in the double-digits, much higher than many other parts of New Jersey.

—Heather Haddon and Sharon Adarlo contributed to this article.