Incumbent Ras Baraka wins a second term as the Mayor of NJ’s largest city in a near landslide victory beating out Central ward Councilwoman Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins. Baraka credited the progress his administration has made over the past 4 years, particularly when it comes to economic development.
“Despite what people try to make you believe, you can see what’s happening in Newark for yourself,” Baraka said. “We never said it was perfect. We never said we didn’t make errors. We never said that things couldn’t get better. All we said is that we were moving in the right direction, and that because we’re moving in the right direction we want to keep moving in the right direction.”
Baraka says he plans to continue to build on the economic development of New Jersey’s largest city.
Councilwoman Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins says she won’t look back at her mayoral bid with regret.
“Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins could have stayed in the Central Ward in a safe seat. But what difference would that have made if I was safe and the rest of my brothers and sisters in our city were hurting,” Chaneyfield Jenkins said.
The councilwoman ran a campaign that was less than favorable of her opponent. She says there was abuse of power at City Hall, and a scandal involving lead in Newark’s water.
“The people deserve better. We know they deserve better. We took on this charge to give them better,” said Chaneyfield Jenkins. “We all fought to make sure that the city of Newark is better and we’re going to continue that fight.”
Chaneyfield Jenkins is proud of her campaign and says it represents a diversity in leadership the city needs.
