Martin G. Barnes
Encyclopedia
Martin G. "Marty" Barnes (born 15 March 1948) is an American
Republican Party politician from Paterson
, New Jersey
. He served as Mayor of Paterson, New Jersey for 5 years. He was the first African American
mayor in Paterson's history, and the corruption scandal that helped cost him re-election and eventually led to him serving time in prison.
, Barnes was appointed mayor by the City Council. Barnes stood for re-election twice in the next fifteen months; he won a special election to serve the remainder of Pascrell's term in November 1997 and then won a full four year term in the city's May 1998 municipal elections. Although Paterson does not hold partisan elections, Barnes was the first Republican elected mayor by Paterson voters since Lawrence "Pat" Kramer was elected in 1978.
Barnes, who was set to begin campaigning to win a second term as mayor in the May city election, initially denied the charges and promised to fight them vigorously, periodically proclaiming his innocence and vowing to vindicate himself at trial while campaigning to keep his seat. Voters in Paterson, however, were not responsive to his efforts and as the probe into his dealings grew Barnes' support waned. Despite his repeated proclamations voters did not buy Barnes' story and he lost the mayor's seat to Democrat Jose "Joey" Torres.
Two months after Barnes' defeat, he entered a plea deal with the federal government which resulted in a 37-month prison sentence in 2003. Although he was admitting guilt, presiding judge William Bassler noted that Barnes had not taken full responsibility for his actions. Judge Bassler specifically noted Barnes' blaming his crimes on overwork and getting "caught up" in city politics for his inability to see that what he was doing was wrong. In sentencing Barnes, Bassler said that Barnes had betrayed the trust of the citizens of Paterson, the city, and his own family with his conduct.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Republican Party politician from Paterson
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. He served as Mayor of Paterson, New Jersey for 5 years. He was the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
mayor in Paterson's history, and the corruption scandal that helped cost him re-election and eventually led to him serving time in prison.
Electoral history
Prior to his time as mayor Barnes served as a City Councilman from Paterson's 3rd Ward, first elected to the council in 1974. After Paterson mayor Bill Pascrell resigned in January 1997 to take a seat in CongressUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, Barnes was appointed mayor by the City Council. Barnes stood for re-election twice in the next fifteen months; he won a special election to serve the remainder of Pascrell's term in November 1997 and then won a full four year term in the city's May 1998 municipal elections. Although Paterson does not hold partisan elections, Barnes was the first Republican elected mayor by Paterson voters since Lawrence "Pat" Kramer was elected in 1978.
Controversy
Near the end of Barnes' term, he became ensnared in a corruption investigation that had been launched by the state into the dealings of several large cities throughout the state. In January 2002, recently appointed New Jersey United States Attorney Chris Christie announced a 40-count indictment against Barnes, citing among other things his forcing contractors to pay for trips he took while mayor and providing "female companions" for him to travel with. Barnes also was charged with extortion and graft, the latter due to his dealings with an Irvington, New Jersey paving contractor who had earned $16 million in city contracts by providing services for Barnes. It was largely through his dealings with the contractor, United Gunite, that the investigation into Barnes deepened as the firm had been accused of paying bribes to many municipal officials statewide.Barnes, who was set to begin campaigning to win a second term as mayor in the May city election, initially denied the charges and promised to fight them vigorously, periodically proclaiming his innocence and vowing to vindicate himself at trial while campaigning to keep his seat. Voters in Paterson, however, were not responsive to his efforts and as the probe into his dealings grew Barnes' support waned. Despite his repeated proclamations voters did not buy Barnes' story and he lost the mayor's seat to Democrat Jose "Joey" Torres.
Two months after Barnes' defeat, he entered a plea deal with the federal government which resulted in a 37-month prison sentence in 2003. Although he was admitting guilt, presiding judge William Bassler noted that Barnes had not taken full responsibility for his actions. Judge Bassler specifically noted Barnes' blaming his crimes on overwork and getting "caught up" in city politics for his inability to see that what he was doing was wrong. In sentencing Barnes, Bassler said that Barnes had betrayed the trust of the citizens of Paterson, the city, and his own family with his conduct.