(06/12/06) NEWARK ? A runoff election in the Newark City Council may give voters a case of mayoral deja vu.

Six seats are up for grabs, but one race has pitted outgoing Mayor Sharpe James against Mayor Elect Cory Booker. James is backing his son, John Sharpe James, for the seat to represent Newark?s South Ward. Booker has thrown his weight behind Oscar James, saying he?ll need allies on the council to help push his agenda through.

However, Mayor James looks at Booker?s candidate less as an ally and more as a rubber stamp. According to the mayor, Booker wants a ?yes? man on the council to agree with his policies. The James-Booker rivalry for their candidates has put the two men in a political showdown, much like the mayoral race four years ago.