NEWARK — If Newark's mayoral race were a chess game, Ras Baraka would have just captured another piece.
In a surprise, last-minute move last Wednesday, the South Ward councilman and mayoral candidate introduced a motion to make long-time Newark Councilman Luis Quintana, council president.
North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos quickly seconded, but Baraka’s initiative was a signal to the city’s Latino community that he is not their enemy. For Baraka’s political opponents it blunts a potential weapon in the mayoral race, as Ramos seeks to become the first Hispanic mayor of Newark.
“Tonight, the Newark City Council made history with our majority vote of Luis Quintana as council president,” Baraka said Wednesday. “Councilman Quintana is well qualified to lead our Council during the coming months of transition in Newark.”
The Ramos campaign said the move would do little for Baraka.
“If this was Ras Baraka’s desperate ploy to conceal his history of divisiveness in this city, then it won’t work because Newark voters won’t be fooled,” said Ramos spokesman Bruno Tedeschi. “There is no question that Anibal Ramos is the only uniter in this race who will be a mayor for everyone in Newark.”
Whatever the motive, Quintana, Newark’s longest-serving council member, said he was elated.
“It was a great feeling,” he said. “I’m delighted I was given that honor.”
This was the second time Baraka has put Ramos into a bind with a council vote.
In May, Baraka pushed a moratorium to suspend all education reforms in Newark Public Schools. While a potent political football in Newark, the council has no authority over schools.
Still, Ramos approved the moratorium, potentially cutting off a major source of donations from the well-funded education reform community.
Baraka declined to comment for this story, saying only, “Luis deserves it.”
The vote may also help heal some wounds on the council. When former president Donald Payne Jr. took over his late father’s congressional seat in 2012, it left an open council seat.
In November, Quintana cut a deal with the Booker administration to support their candidate, Shanique Speight, to fill the open seat. In exchange, Quintana would get the magic five votes needed to become president. But a battle ensued the night of the vote, leading to a near-riot as people protested Booker’s move. A judge later ruled that Booker’s attempt to fill the seat was illegal and it remains vacant.
Quintana won the presidency Wednesday with nearly all of his colleagues’ support. Only at-Large Councilman Carlos Gonzalez abstained.
Despite the maneuver, the Ramos campaign suggested Baraka may face divisions among his own supporters. John James, son of former mayor Sharpe James, is running in a November special election to fill the council’s empty at-Large seat, and Ramos has been showing support for his candidacy.
“Anibal Ramos was the only Newark councilman to attend a rally for John James just before this vote,” Tedeschi said. “The councilman is committed to having a racially and ethnically diverse ticket.”
RELATED COVERAGE
• Luis Quintana voted Newark Council president and possible interim mayor
• Heated Newark council battle has been building for months