Openly Gay Teacher, 24, Announces Run for City Council

A 24-year-old openly gay Newark teacher has announced his candidacy for the city's Central Ward council seat.

Czezre Adams has received 467 signed petitions to earn a spot on the May 13 ballot. A certified candidate needs 327 signed petitions.

"Having this kind of support from the residents of the Central Ward is truly humbling and a sign of the times," Adams said. “Especially given the fact that I am the youngest and only openly gay candidate in this race. This is a strong indication that the residents of my Ward are ready for something new and a change in the status quo leadership currently at City Hall.”

Adams was born and raised in Newark, and is a product of the Newark Public School System. Adams is a teacher at Louise A. Spencer Elementary School. He earned his bachelor's degree in social sciences at Virginia Union University, where he held a variety of leadership positions, including serving as the founder and first president of the university’s Young Democrats of America chapter.

"While I do my best to change Newark by educating my students who are our next generation of leaders, I felt it was time to take my community leadership to the next level and run for Council,” Adams said. “The status quo leadership at City Hall has failed our city and the residents of the Central Ward have had enough.

"Residents are tired of crumbling streets littered with potholes, an aging water sewer system that national organizations have deemed nearly unsafe, a 14.2 percent unemployment rate, a school system on the verge of complete privatization, pervasive corruption throughout the government, and over 100 murders of mostly young black men during 2013."

Adams said sweeping ethics reform, major investments in public safety, infrastructure and economic development are necessary to help get Newark on the right path.

"The needs of Newarkers are vast, but I believe my city and its residents are worth the investment,” Adams said. “While on Council, I will be proposing legislation that will eliminate tax abatements that aren’t working for residents; ensure that regular audits of the city’s finances are conducted so that we can eliminate government waste; explore the idea of increasing the city’s hotel/motel tax to pay for education assistance grants for low income Newarkers; and find ways to better market our city to ethical and responsible businesses to reduce our massive unemployment rate, which could help to lower crime as well.

"And while I have decided that my campaign will be about bringing big, innovative, and tangible ideas to Newarkers, my most important job is to show residents that by choosing to support my candidacy, we can reverse the tide of corruption and business as usual at City Hall. Newarkers want to be able to trust and believe in their government and its leaders again, but they will never be able to do that so long as the status quo leadership at City Hall remains in power.”