Municipal Council of Newark

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

Further information: Mayors of Newark, New Jersey

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

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

East Ward Council Members

West Ward Council Members

South Ward Council Members

Central Ward Council Members

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. 1 2 The Municipal Council, City of Newark. December 4, 2013.
  3. ↑ Pomper, Gerald M. (1988), Voters, Elections, and Parties: The Practice of Democratic Theory, Transaction Publishers, ISBN 0-88738-160-X, LCCN 87025466
  4. ↑ Moszczynski, Joe (September 26, 2010). "N.J. municipalities consider moving non-partisan elections from May to November". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
  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.
  6. ↑ Giambusso, David (February 12, 2012). "For Newark City Council, a fat budget in lean times". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  7. ↑ Editorial (February 15, 2012). "Newark Council salaries unreasonable in today's economy". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  8. ↑ Giambusso, David (December 3, 2013). "Comptroller slams Newark council spending in audit". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  9. ↑ Giambusso, David (February 24, 2012). "Newark City Council defends its high salaries and staffing levels". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  10. ↑ Moran, Tom (February 26, 2012). "Newark Council's high salaries should be source of shame". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  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.
  14. ↑ "Newark voters to fill council vacancy An appellate court invalidated a council vote where Mayor Booker acted as tiebreaker and cast a". Philadelphia Inquirer. July 7, 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  15. ↑ Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division (July 5, 2013). "CORY BOOKER ROBERT MARASCO ANIBAL RAMOS JR AUGUSTO AMADOR CARLOS GONZALEZ LUIS QUINTANA SHANIQUE DAVIS SPEIGHT v. RONALD RICE RAS BARAKA MILDRED CRUMP DARRIN SHARIF". DOCKET NO.&#ensp;A–2413–12T4. Find a Law. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  16. ↑ http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/george_buddy_gee_branch_former.html George Branch obit
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