Peter Shapiro Archives - New Jersey Globe

Trailblazer: Congressman Donald Payne Sr.

January 18, 2021 12:10 amJanuary 17, 2021 1:57 pm

Donald Payne, Sr. (1934-2012) was the first Black to represent New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives. He had run for Congress twice before winning the seat in 1988. In 1970, Payne became the first African American to serve...

Trailblazer: Mayor Kenneth Gibson

January 18, 2021 12:09 amJanuary 17, 2021 1:51 pm

Kenneth Gibson (1932-2019) became the first Black to serve as mayor of a major northeastern city when he ousted two-term incumbent Hugh Addonizio in 1970. Gibson had served as an engineer for the New Jersey Highway Department and as the...

John Alati, former Essex freeholder, dies at 73

January 15, 2021 12:50 pmJanuary 15, 2021 8:47 pm

John M. Alati, a popular former Essex County freeholder who was one of the most influential people in county politics in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, died on January 15. He was 73. He was elected freeholder in 1984, representing...

The special for John Lewis’ seat, and some NJ political history

December 1, 2020 9:49 am

Georgia voters go to the polls today to elect a short-term replacement for John Lewis, a legendary civil rights leader and 17-term congressman who died in July. The winner of the special election runoff will serve until January 3, when...

Essex GOP re-elects Barlas for another four years

August 4, 2020 8:24 pm

Al Barlas was re-elected to a four-year term as Essex County Republican Chairman on Tuesday evening without opposition. Mary Devon O’Brien was re-elected vice chair. “Together with our Executive Committee, we are committed to ensuring our Party is always moving...

Carmine Capone, former Orange mayor, dies at 92

June 8, 2020 10:54 am

Carmine E. Capone, a fixture in Essex County politics and the mayor of Orange from 1976 to 1980, died on June 1. He was 92. He launched his political career in 1967 as a candidate for a North Ward council...

Thomas Cooke, former East Orange mayor, dies of coronavirus at 90

May 29, 2020 4:03 pmJune 4, 2020 10:20 am

Former East Orange Mayor Thomas H. Cooke, Jr., one of the first African American politicians to achieve success in Essex County in the 1960s, died on May 18 of complications related to the coronavirus pandemic. He was 90. Cooke was...