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.
Born |
20 February 1936 Jacksonville, Florida
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Died |
11 May 2025 (aged 89)
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Zodiac | Pisces |
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