NEWARK — Ras Baraka was officially sworn in today as Newark's 40th mayor.
State Senator Richard Codey administered the oath of office outside the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in the heart of the city's downtown.
"It is my pleasure to introduce to you the mayor of the city of Newark," Codey said after administering the oath.
Beginning his inaugural address, Baraka invoked the statement that he used repeatedly in his campaign to win election to become mayor of the state's largest city: "We are the mayor."
As he spoke, hundreds of Newark residents sat on folding chairs and endured the heat and humidity to watch the outdoor ceremony.
Baraka, a 45-year-old longtime activist and South Ward councilman, was elected on May 13, beating former assistant attorney general Shavar Jeffries.
He is the son of the late poet and activist Amiri Baraka and a former principal at Central High School in Newark.
The newly-elected city council members, including Council President Mildred Crump, West Ward councilman Joe McCallum, Central Ward councilwoman Gayle Chaneyfield-Jenkins, East Ward councilman Augusto Amador, South Ward councilman John Sharpe James, North Ward councilman Anibal Ramos and At-large Councilmen Carlos Gonzalez, Luis Quintana and Eddie Osborne will also be sworn into four-year terms.
After the inauguration, the city council is scheduled to hold a reorganization meeting, during which the legislative body will elect a city council president.
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