Sharpe James, Longest Serving Newark Mayor, Dies at 89

On May 13, 2025

Sharpe James, the longest-serving mayor of Newark, has passed away at 89 years old. James served a record five terms as the 37th mayor of New Jersey’s largest city from 1986 to 2006. He also served as a state senator for the 29th Legislative District from 1999 to 2008. 

James was born in Jacksonville, Florida, in 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. James leaves behind his wife, Mary (née Mattison), and three sons.

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.

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.

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.

“Sharpe was a fixture of New Jersey politics for nearly four decades,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. “During his long tenure as mayor of Newark, he fought to revitalize the city’s economy and played a key role in making vital cultural institutions—like the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and the Prudential Arena—a reality. And today, thanks in part to Sharpe’s many years of fierce advocacy, Newark continues to enjoy a historic economic renaissance. Whenever the two of us spoke, his deep affection for the city of Newark was always clear.”

In 1988, James was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Montclair State University, and, in 1991, an Honorary Doctorate from Drew University.

James is also the 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.

In 2008, James was convicted of corruption for misusing city funds and rigging land deals. Indicted on 33 federal charges, James was found guilty and sentenced to 27 months in prison and a $100,000 fine.

In 2013, James published a 17-chapter book titled Political Prisoner, which he had written in prison.

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