1998 Newark mayoral election

The 1998 election for Mayor of Newark took place in Newark, the most populous city in the state of New Jersey, on May 12, 1998. Elections for all seats on the nine-member Municipal Council of Newark were held the same day. A runoff election, if necessary, would have taken place. Elections in the city are non-partisan and candidates are not listed by political party. Incumbent Mayor Sharpe James was re-elected to his fourth term in office.[2]

1998 Newark mayoral election

← 1994 May 12, 1998[1] 2002 →
 
Candidate Sharpe James Ronald Rice Mildred Crump
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote 23,402 11,513 7,158
Percentage 55.6% 27.4% 17.0%

Mayor before election

Sharpe James
Democratic

Elected mayor

Sharpe James
Democratic

Candidates

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Declared

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Though all elections are non-partisan, all candidates are registered Democrats and Newark is a heavily Democratic city.

Campaign

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Although Rice and Crump were originally allies of James, they had accused him of ignoring the city's rising unemployment rate, failing schools (which at this point were under state takeover), and taking credit for the accomplishments of others.[3]

Results

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If no candidate received 50% of the vote, the race would have continued to a run-off between the top two candidates from the first round.

James received 55.6% of the total vote, securing re-election.

Results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Sharpe James (incumbent) 23,402 55.6%
Nonpartisan Ronald Rice 11,513 27.4%
Nonpartisan Mildred C. Crump 7,158 17.0%
Total votes 42,073 100.00

References

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  1. ^ Newark plans summit over schools
  2. ^ a b "Sharpe James wins 4th term as Newark mayor", Asbury Park Press, May 13, 1998, retrieved September 23, 2023
  3. ^ "Newark reelects Sharpe James; incumbent wins in Union City", The Record, May 13, 1998, retrieved September 23, 2023