Municipal Council of Newark

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The Municipal Council is the legislative branch of government for Newark, New Jersey.

Newark was governed by a mayor and common council from 1836 to 1917 and then by a five-member commission until 1954.

Effective as of July 1, 1954, the voters of the city of Newark, by a referendum held on November 3, 1953 and under the Optional Municipal Charter Law (commonly known as the Faulkner Act), adopted the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) Plan C as the form of local government.[1]

There are nine council members elected on a nonpartisan basis at the regular municipal election or at the general election for terms of four years: one council member from each of five wards and four council members on an at-large basis. The mayor is also elected for a term of four years.[2]

Municipal elections in Newark are nonpartisan.[3] and are held on the 2nd Tuesday in May.[4] A council candidate seeking a post in a ward must receive more than 50 percent of the vote. If a candidate does not receive a majority, a run-off election is held with the two candidates with the greatest number of votes.

Council members choose their own President and until 2014, when the position was eliminated, Vice President.

As of 2012, the Municipal Council were the highest paid city council members in the state, earning approximately $85,000 pa, with the president earning roughly $94,000.[5][6][7][8][9][10]

Elections for Municipal Council were last held on May 13, 2014 with members sworn in on July 1, 2014. [11]

Current Members

The current members,of the council are serving terms which end June 30, 2018.[12][13]

Mayor

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The mayor may cast a tie-breaking vote on the municipal council when there is an equal number of yes and no votes.[14][15] The Mayor can also call for meetings of the council outside the those regularly scheduled.[2]

The Newark mayoral election took place May 13, 2014 and was won by Ras J. Baraka. Luis A. Quintana had stepped down as Council President to be sworn in as mayor on November 4, 2013 assuming the term of Cory Booker, which ended June 30, 2014.


Council members since 1954

Council Presidents

  • John A. Brady, 1954–1958
  • Michael A. Bontempo, 1958–1962
  • Ralph A. Villani 1962-1970
  • Louis Turco, 1970–1973
  • Frank G. Megaro, 1973–1974
  • Earl Harris, 1974–1982
  • Ralph T. Grant, Jr. 1982-1986
  • Henry Martinez 1986-1990
  • Ralph T. Grant, Jr. 1990-1991
  • Doanld Tucker, 1991–1992
  • Donald Bradley, 1992–1993
  • Gary Harris, 1993–1994
  • Donald Bradley, 1994–2006
  • Mildred C. Crump 2006-2010, 2013-
  • Donald M. Payne, Jr. 2010-2012
  • Luis A. Quintana 2013

Council Vice President

Position Eliminated by Council in Late Part of 2014 and the Early Part of 2015, The Position was recreated in May of 2015.

Council Members At-Large

North Ward Council Members

  • Mario V. Farco, 1954–1958
  • Joseph V. Melillo, 1958–1970
  • Frank G. Megaro, 1970–1974
  • Anthony Carrino, 1974–2002
  • Hector M. Corchado, 2002–2006
  • Anibal Ramos, Jr., 2006–

East Ward Council Members

  • Phillip Gordon, 1954–1968
  • Louis Turco, 1968–1974
  • Finney J. Alati 1974
  • Henry Martinez, 1974–1998
  • Augusto Amador, 1998–

West Ward Council Members

  • M. Joseph Gallagher, 1954–1958
  • Frank Addonizio, 1958–1970
  • Michael P. Bottone, 1970–1982
  • Ronald L. Rice, 1982–1998
  • Mamie Bridgeforth, 1998–2006
  • Ronald C. Rice, 2006-2014
  • Joe McCallum, 2014-

South Ward Council Members

Central Ward Council Members

  • Irvine Turner, 1954–1970
  • Dennis Westbrooks, 1970–1974
  • Jesse Allen, 1974–1978
  • Benjamin F. Johnson, III, 1978–1982
  • George Branch, 1982–1998[16]
  • Cory A. Booker, 1998–2002
  • Charles A. Bell 2002-2006, 2008–2010
  • Dana Rone, 2006–2008
  • Darrin S. Sharif, 2010-2014
  • Gayle Chaneyfield-Jenkins, 2014-

References

  1. 2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 125.
  2. 2.0 2.1 The Municipal Council, City of Newark. December 4, 2013.
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  5. Council members are paid $64,766 annual and $18,000 in payments in lieu of expenses each year while the city council president receives a $71,375 salary and $20,000 for expenses, according to the clerk's office.
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  11. http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2014/05/newark_election_2014_candidates_compete_for_council_seats.html
  12. The Municipal Council, City of Newark. Accessed 2013-12-03.
  13. Municipal Officials, Essex County, New Jersey Retrieved 2013-12-02.
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  16. http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/george_buddy_gee_branch_former.html George Branch obit