The longest-serving mayor of Newark, New Jersey, Sharpe James, has died at age 89.
James served a record five terms, 20 years, as mayor before he was convicted of corruption and sentenced to 27 months in prison.
Current mayor Ras Baraka released a statement that said, “In his 20 years in office as mayor, Sharpe James was many things: a warrior for our city, a unifier for its people, a powerful force to launch development, like New Jersey Performing Arts Center and the Prudential Center, and a strong advocate for Newark and its people…