Sharpe James
Mayor of Newark
Died when: 89 years 80 days (1070 months)Star Sign: Aquarius
Sharpe James (born February 20, 1936) was an American Democratic politician from New Jersey, who served as State Senator for the 29th Legislative District and was 37th Mayor of Newark, New Jersey.
James was the second African American Mayor of Newark and served five four-year terms before declining to run for re-election.
He is a subject of the movie Street Fight which depicts the controversial methods Sharpe used to undermine the campaign of Cory Booker, who challenged the incumbent mayor in 2002.
From June 1999 until July 2006, James simultaneously served as Mayor of Newark and New Jersey State Senator.He declined to run for re-election to the State Senate in 2007; his term as Senator expired in January 2008.
On April 16, 2008, James was convicted of five counts of fraud by a federal jury and was subsequently sentenced to 27 months in prison.
Prior to politics, James worked as a teacher, athletic director and professor at Essex County College.