Newark Candidate Runs Against His Own Fame

Speaking of African-American mayor candidates with the guts to tackle the truly truly horrific public schools, below is a front page article in today's NY Times on Cory Booker.

--------------------

Newark Candidate Runs Against His Own Fame

By DAMIEN CAVE and JOSH BENSON

Published: May 4, 2006

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/04/nyregion/04booker.html?ei=5094&en=f5795a70016f5a60&hp=&ex=1146715200&partner=homepage&pagewanted=all

When Richard Whitten, a former Newark postal worker, met Cory Booker at a charity event downtown in 1996, his first impression was that Mr. Booker seemed too polished to be sincere.

With degrees from Stanford, Oxford and Yale Law School, his generous use of quotations from famous intellectuals, his perpetual smile and gregarious earnestness, Mr. Booker seemed almost like a caricature of a politician, even though he had yet to run for office.

"At first I didn't like him," Mr. Whitten said. "I thought he talked too fast; I thought he sounded like a used-car salesman."

Although Mr. Whitten was eventually won over, volunteering to work for three Booker campaigns after coming to respect his intelligence and zeal, his early skepticism mirrors the challenge Mr. Booker has faced ever since he arrived in Newark a decade ago.