SHARPE JAMES: He served 18 months in federal prison after a 2008 corruption conviction. PHOTO COURTESY OF FACEBOOK

Newark, N.J. (AP) – Sharpe James, the charismatic longest-serving mayor of Newark whose political accomplishments were marred by a corruption conviction, has died. He was 89.

James died Sunday evening, according to his son, John Sharpe James, a former Newark City Council member.

After entering politics, James never lost an election. The Democrat was first elected to public office in 1970, winning a Newark City Council seat. He won the mayor’s seat in 1986 by beating Kenneth Gibson, who had held the post for 16 years.

James was reelected four times, serving 20 years overall as mayor before deciding not to run in 2006 after initially saying he would. That decision came four years after his contentious but successful mayoral run against then-City Councilman Cory Booker, which was chronicled in the Oscar-nominated documentary film "Street Fight."

As James’ political career wound down, he became the focus of a federal investigation and was convicted in 2008 on charges that he abused his mayoral office by steering city-owned land to his girlfriend. He served 18 months in federal prison.

Booker, now a U.S. senator, replaced James as Newark’s mayor.

"Sharpe James was a beloved pillar of our shared community, serving the City of Newark for two decades as mayor and giving nearly four decades of his life to public service. I am deeply saddened by his passing," Booker said in a statement.

As mayor, James became a largerthan-life figure and one of the state’s most powerful politicians. He led high-profile efforts to attract development to downtown Newark and supported building an arena in Newark. The arena plan eventually came to fruition when the Prudential Center opened in 2007.

Critics called James flamboyant, citing his brash behavior and desire to draw attention to himself. They also claimed that he lived a lavish lifestyle at the expense of taxpayers, noting accusations that he racked up thousands of dollars on city credit cards for personal expenses and travels.

James strongly denied claims that he led a corrupt political machine. He had repeatedly faced allegations of questionable campaign tactics, including alleged use of the police force for his own purposes and intimidating supporters of his opponents.

While still serving as mayor, James was appointed to the New Jersey Senate in 1999 following the death of Sen.

"Nobody’s perfect, nobody. But he was damn near," his mother, RowVaughn Wells, said at a news conference in 2023, moments after she watched the video of her son being beaten. "He was damn near perfect."

He was the baby of their family. He had a 4-year-old son and worked hard to better himself as a father, his family said. He was an avid skateboarder from Sacramento, California, and came to Memphis just before the coronavirus pandemic and got stuck. But he was fine with it because he was with his mother, and they were incredibly close, Wells said. He had her name tattooed on his arm.

Friends at a memorial service in 2023 described him as joyful and lovable.

"This man walked into a room, and everyone loved him," said Angelina Paxton, a friend who traveled to Memphis from California for the service.

Growing up in Sacramento, Nichols spent much of his time at a skate park on the outskirts of the city. It could be a rough place sometimes for younger kids. But when Niko Chapman was 10 years old, his parents would let him walk to the park alone as long as they knew Nichols was there.

"You remember people that are really kind to you, and Tyre was just a really kind person," Chapman said. "He just always made me feel really welcome."

Chapman’s dad, Curtis Chapman, ran a youth group at a local church that would often meet at the skate park for pizza. Nichols quickly became a regular, bringing his energetic spirit and quick wit. But away from the group, Nichols would often show up at the Chapman house to talk about life — including coming to grips with being a young parent.

"What drew me to Tyre was just — he’s real," Curtis Chapman said. "He would talk about being a dad and wanting to be a good dad and seeking advice."

There was a Bible study on Thursdays that Nichols would attend with his friend Brian Jang. One day, the group watched a sermon about how the world is filled with distractions. Jang said Nichols was so moved by it that he pulled out his flip phone and dropped it in a cup of water. "I thought it was awesome, just seeing his growth and his commitment," Jang said.

The last time Jang saw Nichols was in 2018 at the food court in a local mall. The two hadn’t seen each other in awhile, but Jang said Nichols came up behind

Wynona Lipman. He won an election later that year to complete her unexpired term and went on to win two full terms.

James remained as Newark’s mayor while serving in the Legislature. Supporters noted that holding the two posts was allowed under state law.

Associated Press reporter John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, contributed. him and gave him a big hug as the two caught up.

"It’s honestly pretty devastating to see such a good human go through such unnecessary brutality, such unnecessary death," Jang said.

His mother said she raised him to love everyone openly — until they give you a reason not to. So Nichols was quick to make friends.

In Memphis, Nichols went to Starbucks every morning, and Nate Spates Jr. would hang out with him there. They chatted about sports or life. Spates was with his wife once when they ran into Nichols there, and they all talked for a couple of hours. Afterwards, Spates said his wife commented, "He’s got such a good spirit and soul and calm presence." Nichols worked second shift at FedEx with his stepfather. Every day, they’d come home together on their break at 7 p.m., and his mother would have a meal waiting for them.

Wells said she’d offered to buy her son Jordans, the popular athletic shoes, but he didn’t want them.

"He was just his own person," she said. "He didn’t follow what anyone else was doing."

When he wasn’t working, he went to the park to skateboard and take pictures. His website, called This California Kid, starts with an invitation: "Welcome to the world through my eyes."

He included a gallery of what he considered his masterpieces: bridges and railroad tracks rendered in black and white, the neon lights of Beale Street at night. He took pictures of pink flowers, sunsets over the Mississippi River, fields of grass, statues of Elvis. He highlights a quote from another photographer: "A good photographer must love life," it begins.

After she watched the video of her son’s death, she stood with her family and their lawyers at a lectern, shaking, to convey what the world lost.

A lawyer described the beating shown in the video — "he was a human piñata" — and Wells turned her head away, burying her face into her hands.

In the video footage, which was released to the public, Nichols is heard saying he just wants to go home, family lawyers said. He was less than 100 yards from his mother’s house.

Lawyers described the last words Nichols is heard saying — calling for his mom, three times.

"Oh my God," she wailed as they spoke. "Oh my God."