(03/27/06) NEWARK ? Newark Mayor Sharpe James announced Monday he will not be seeking re-election to office.

The 70-year-old mayor sent a letter to the city clerk asking that his name be taken off the ballots before they are printed on Tuesday. James, who has been the city?s mayor since 1986, says he?s not running because he opposes the practice of dual office holding in New Jersey. In addition to his role as mayor of Newark, James is also a state senator.

Had he stayed in the race, James would have once again faced off against Corey Booker. The mayor narrowly defeated Booker in the last election by a margin of 3,500 votes.

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