Ras Baraka declares victory in race to succeed Cory Booker as Newark mayor

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/14/ras-baraka-declares-victory-newark-mayoral-race

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Ras Baraka, son of the late militant poet and activist Amiri Baraka, declared victory Tuesday in the race to succeed Democratic senator Cory Booker as mayor of the state of New Jersey's largest city.

Baraka, who served on Newark's City Council, was a staunch critic of Booker, who stepped down last year to run for the Senate. He declared victory with nearly all districts counted and with a 54% to 46% lead over former state assistant attorney general Shavar Jeffries.

Baraka inherits a fiscal crisis that has left Newark in danger of being subject to state monitoring.

His supporters held a raucous celebration at a downtown hotel after he announced his victory.

Speaking to the crowd, Baraka said he knew his father, who died in January, was "in the room tonight."

"We have a great city, an international city," he said. "Watch out, America, here comes Newark!"

Baraka and Jeffries are Democrats, but the election was nonpartisan.

Luis Quintana, a municipal council official, has been serving as interim Newark mayor since Booker's departure. Booker won a special election to replace the late Democratic senator Frank Lautenberg.