Cory Booker Kicks Off His Campaign For Mayor Of Newark

Newark, NJ, February 16, 2006 — Cory A. Booker officially kicked off his campaign for Mayor of Newark today at Deliverance Evangelistic Center, 621 Clinton Ave., Newark, NJ. The event was held from 12 Noon to 3:00 PM.

Booker ran for Mayor of Newark in 2002, narrowly losing by 3500 votes. Today, nearly 1500 people from the South, North, West, East, and Central wards of Newark came out to celebrate Cory Booker’s announcement that he is running for mayor of Newark in 2006.

“I am running to improve the lives of every person in Newark,” says Cory Booker. “We need realistic solutions to crime, drugs, and gangs so that our streets are safer and our neighborhoods are more secure.”

“After the election in 2002, many longtime residents of Newark saw what I was about and decided to join me in my pursuit to make Newark better,” says Booker. “As with a lot of people In Newark, my running mates understand that it’s time to look ahead. They believe that my vision for the future is real and that it offers hope for all citizens of Newark from our youth to our seniors.”

Oscar Sydney James II, who is running for South Ward councilman says “Cory Booker really took his time going ward by ward to find great talent that he knew was in the city and he found it. I’m here for Cory Booker 110 percent,” says James, 24, who lived his entire life in Newark.

Longtime Newark resident, Mildred Crump, became the first African American City Councilwoman-At-Large in 1994. She says “Cory Booker has no self-interest. He is a public servant, not a politician. Cory is smart, courageous and has the discerning ability to run Newark well.”

Luis Quintana, who is running for Councilman-At-Large says, “I believe that Newark needs change. Cory brings a new vision and a new direction and he is about no nonsense.” In 1994 Quintana became the first person of Hispanic descent to be elected at-large in Newark.


The kickoff began with a musical selection by Galilee Baptist Church choir. In attendance were Booker’s parents, Cary and Carolyn Booker, his uncle Colden Raines, Sr. and brother Cary Booker, who lives in the South Ward. Also in attendance were the West Ward essay contest winners and Randal Pinkett, the latest winner of Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice.” Pinkett is the CEO of BCT Partners, a technology and public policy consulting firm based in Newark.

The Booker Team for Newark includes:

Augusto Amadour, who is running for East Ward Councilman

Mildred Crump, who is running for Councilwoman At-Large

Carlos Gonzalez, who is running for Councilman At-Large

Luis Quintana, who is running for Councilman At-Large

Ron Rice Jr., who is running for West Ward Councilman

Dana Rone, who is running for Central Ward Councilwoman

Oscar Sydney James II, who is running for South Ward Councilman

About Cory A. Booker:
Cory A. Booker, 36, is currently a partner in the Newark, NJ law firm of Booker, Rabinowitz, et al., and founding president of Newark Now, a grassroots nonprofit to help tenant associations in Newark. Cory served as central ward councilman from 1998 to 2001, where he increased security in public housing while also developing additional playgrounds.
In December 2005, Black Enterprise magazine named Booker one of the “Best and Brightest under 40.” He was previously recognized by TIME Magazine as the “Savior of Newark,” and in ESQUIRE as one of the country’s “40 Best and Brightest.” For more information visit http://www.corybooker.com.