NEWARK — Call them the "Big Three."

Ras Baraka, Shavar Jeffries and Anibal Ramos have all now officially declared their

plans to run for Mayor of Newark. The long march toward May 2014 has begun.

For close to a decade, Newark Mayor Cory Booker has dominated city politics. Even before he was elected mayor in 2006, Booker’s presence loomed large over City Hall.

For the first time in 10 years, Newark is looking past Booker.

“It will be the first mayoral race after the long drama associated with the ending of Mayor Sharpe James’ last term and the national ascent of Cory Booker,” said Clement Price, distinguished professor of history at Rutgers-Newark.

“One wonders whether the local and national attention in this campaign will be anywhere proximate to the life and times of Cory Booker and Newark,” he added.

Whether or not the world is watching, the race will be hard fought.

At barbecues, block parties, community events and council meetings, Newark can expect a summer of politicking and traded attacks from the big three.

“It is so rare that an office of this stature opens up that it is predictable that this is going to be a really competitive bloodbath,” said Brigid Harrison, a professor of political science at Montclair State University.

The major issues cited in speeches and comments of the candidates so far are crime, jobs and education.

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Electorally, each candidate has distinct advantages and tough obstacles.

Ramos, the North Ward Councilman, has strong political support. Power broker Steve Adubato Sr. took a bow at Ramos’s announcement last week, as did Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo. Statewide elections have been won or lost based on the backing of those two men.

Ramos would be the first Latino mayor, marking a major demographic shift in the majority black city.

But in Newark, voters align more closely with their wards, and in many areas the presence of Adubato is seen as a negative.

That’s especially true in the mostly black South Ward, where Councilman Baraka has built a loyal and powerful following.

“This election will be won by the people not political bosses, county machines, and not even by big money special interest groups,” Baraka said in e-mail.

Son of famed Newark poet, Amiri Baraka, Baraka has a lot of name recognition but lacks the fundraising prowess of his competitors. He has only $5,000 on hand as of last filing. Jeffries and Ramos have $270,000 and $267,000 respectively.

Baraka will be counting on grassroots support to win in the South, Central and West wards.

"We intend to show people that when I become mayor we all become mayor," he said.

Jeffries, a former assistant state Attorney General, has a strong narrative.

He grew up in the South Ward and lost his mother to violence. He graduated from Duke University and Columbia Law School and came back to Newark to raise his family.

He has strong connections to charter schools, as well as Duke and Columbia alumni, which gives him an edge in fundraising.

But Jeffries is relatively unknown in Newark, where typically one runs for council before shooting for mayor.

“The plan this summer is going to be the continuous plan for the campaign in general: Its getting out there it’s knocking on doors,” said Lupe Todd, a spokeswoman for Jeffries. “It’s Shavar talking with residents about issues that concern them.”

As the camps line up, there is still at least one city player who has not come out for a candidate: Cory Booker

Booker has a long standing alliance with Ramos, but he has avoided appearing publicly in favor of anyone so far.

With his backing comes money, recognition and an existing, citywide campaign apparatus.

“He’s got a really sophisticated and replicable street organization that can turn out people,” Harrison said.

RELATED COVERAGE

• Baraka sets stage for Newark mayoral run with ward speech

• Shavar Jeffries officially jumps into the ring for Newark mayoral contest

• Newark councilman Anibal Ramos kicks off run for mayor

