Shavar Jeffries

Shavar Jeffries is a civil rights attorney who in September 2015 become the president of Democrats for Education Reform which promotes more charter schools, school funding and stricter teacher evaluations to revamp public education. ^{[1] [2]} A former assistant state Attorney General, he was a candidate in the 2014 election for Mayor of Newark, New Jersey.^[3] after which he became a partner at Lowenstein Sandler in August 2014.^[4][5]

Background

Jeffries grew up in the South Ward of Newark. He lost his mother to violence was raised by his grandmother, a public school teacher.^[6] He first attended Newark Public Schools and later received a scholarship to attend Seton Hall Preparatory School in West Orange.^[7] Jeffries obtained his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1996.^[8] After graduating he attended Columbia Law School where he served as managing editor of the Columbia Human Rights Law Review^[8] and clerked for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. He received his Juris Doctor in 1999. Jeffries lives in the South Ward with his wife and their two children.

Career

After law school, Jeffries clerked for Judge Nathaniel R. Jones of the U.S. Court of Appeals.^[8] He then worked as an associate with Wilmer Cutler & Pickering. Since 2001, Shavar has been counsel at Gibbons P.C., a firm based at the Gateway Center in Newark.

Jeffries has been an associate professor at the Center for Social Justice at Seton Hall Law School since 2004. In 2008-2010, he took a leave of absence to serve as Assistant Attorney General and Counsel to New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram and led several departments, including the Juvenile Justice Commission and the Civil Rights Division.^[9]

In April 2010, Jeffries was elected to the Newark Public Schools Advisory Board.^[10] He became a partner at Lowenstein Sandler in August 2014.^[4][5] In September 2015 he become the president of Democrats for Education Reform which promotes more charter schools, school funding and stricter teacher evaluations to revamp public education.^{[11][1] [2]}

Mayoral candidacy

Jeffries announced his election bid on May 20, 2013.^[12][13] Jeffries was relatively known in Newark,^[3][14] where typically one runs first for council and then for mayor.^[3] Jeffries introduced a public safety plan in October 2013^[15][16] As of January 2014, Jeffries had raised the most campaign financing of the candidates.^[17]

The election took place May 13, 2014 and Jeffries was defeated by Municipal Council of Newark Council Member Ras Baraka.^[12] Other potential candidates, Council Members Anibal Ramos, Jr. and Darrin S. Sharif,^{[18][19] [20]} had earlier dropped out of the race.^[21]

Jeffries' eight-member council slate includes incumbents East Ward Councilman Augusto Amador, North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos, Jr. and At-large Councilman Carlos Gonzalez and candidates Brian Logan (South Ward). Kevin Waters (West Ward) and Andre Speight (Central Ward). Lynda Lloyd (At-large), and former Assemblyman Wilfredo Caraballo (At-large).^[22]

In February he received an endorsement of William D. Payne^[23] and March from Donald Payne, Jr.,^[24] both of whom who are part a long time Newark political dynasty. He has also been endorsed by the Teamsters,^[25] State Senator Teresa Ruiz and Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor-Marin.^[26] Jeffries received the endorsements of Board of Chosen Freeholders President Blonnie Watson, Freeholder Vice-President Patricia Sebold and Freeholder D. Bilal Beasley. Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing New York's 8th congressional district in Brooklyn and Queens with roots in Newark, has also endorsed Jeffries. In May he received the endorsement of Eva Longoria.^[27] Jeffries was endorsed by the The Star-Ledger.^[28]

Jeffries conceded the race to Baraka at the Golden Dome Athletic Center on election night.^[29]

Scholarship

In 2015 Jeffries has established the Donna Johnson Memorial Scholarship to support the educational development of a young person who has experienced the loss of a parent, guardian, or loved one because of domestic violence, or whose life has otherwise been touched by violence against women.^[30]

References

External links

• Shavar Jeffires Mayor 2014
• Perry, Ravi K (editor); Gillepsie, Andra (2013), "Beyond Booker: Assissing the Prospect of Black and Latino Mayoral Candidates in Newark, New Jersey", 21st Century Urban Race Politics: Representing Minorities As Universal Interests (Emerald Group Publishing) 
• Mooney, John (October 25, 2013). "WOULD-BE SUCCESSORS TO CORY BOOKER OFFER VIEWS ON NEWARK’S SCHOOLS". NJ Spotlight. 
• Grossman, Andrew (April 28, 2013). "Controversial Professor Links Two Rising Politicians Two Rising Political Leaders Are Connected to a Former CUNY Professor". The Wall Street Journal. 
• "Candidate Q&A: Newark mayoral candidate Shavar Jeffries puts focus on neighborhoods". NJBiz. March 3, 2014. 
• Brooks, David (March 17, 2014). "How Cities Change". The New York Times. 
• Taub, Rob (April 28, 2014). "A Vision for Newark". Huffington Post. 
• Trosk (May 9, 2014). "Shavar Jeffries for Mayor of Newark". Daily Kos. 
• "Meet The Democratic Candidates for Newark Mayor". WNYC. May 9, 2014. 
• Sherman, Ted; Naomi Nix (May 11, 2014). "Newark's race for mayor: Baraka and Jeffries at the end of old-school battle with new cash". The Star-Ledger. 
• Pressley, Daron (May 12, 2014). "Month of the Man: Shavar Jeffries Talks Turning Tragedy into Motivation for Leadership". Black Enterprise. 
• We Need More Shavar Jeffries
• S@S Magazine
• SOTU 2016: President Obama's Education Legacy

Mayor and Municipal Council of Newark, New Jersey Mayor Ras Baraka Members-At-Large Mildred C. Crump (President) Carlos M. Gonzalez Eddie Osborne Luis A. Quintana Ward North: Anibal Ramos, Jr. South: John Sharpe James Central: Gayle Chaneyfield-Jenkins East: Augusto Amador West: Joe McCallum