Irvine I. Turner

Irvine Turner
Member of the
Municipal Council of Newark
from the Central Ward
In office
July 1, 1954 – July 1, 1970
Succeeded byDennis Westbrooks
Personal details
Born1914
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Died(1974-09-09)September 9, 1974
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
OccupationPolitician

Irvine I. Turner (1914–1974)[1][2] was an American newspaper publisher and politician who was a leading citizen of Newark, New Jersey and served on the city's first Municipal Council.[3][4] He was also publisher and co-editor of The New Jersey Record, a Black weekly newspaper.[5] He was known for his "flamboyant personality and fiery rhetoric".[5] Mayor Kenneth A. Gibson called him "a man who paved the way for black people to be elected to public office."[6]

Early life

Irvine Turner was born in Newark in 1914 and educated in the city,[6] including at Barringer High School.[7] He attended the New York School of Journalism and joined the staff of the New Jersey Guardian.[6] When the Guardian suspended publication he co-founded The New Jersey Record with Fred R. Clark.[6] In 1941 was appointed a member of the Newark Fair Employment Practices Committee under Mayor Vincent J. Murphy, becoming its youngest member.[3][6] In the same year he served on a committee to study one way streets under Public Safety Director John B Keenan.[3][6] Turner ran unsuccessfully for City Commissioner in 1949 and 1953.[6]

Newark Municipal Council

1954 election

In November 1953, Newark voters adopted a new charter via public referendum. The charter abolished the existing five-member city commission and replaced it with a nine-member Municipal Council, with four members elected at-large and five elected from the city's five new wards.[8] Elections to four-year terms on the Municipal Council were scheduled for May 11, 1954, and the new Council would take office on the following July 1.[9]

Turner ran to represent the Central Ward against Roger Yancy, a lawyer advanced by the professional African American community, and Johnny Savado.[5][8] Turner, as a newspaperman, was popular in the community. He had financial support from Jewish gangster Abner Zwillman and was endorsed by former mayor Ralph A. Villani, unions, the Civil Rights Congress, and the Negro Labor Vanguard.[8] The New Jersey Afro American, however, endorsed Yancey.[5]

In the initial election, Turner and Savado advanced to a run-off.[10] Turner defeated Savado by approximately one thousand votes in a run-off election.[5][8][11]

Historian Robert Curvin wrote, "With his victory, a common man with intriguing connections and one-time neighborhood hustler was transformed into one of the most important politicians in New Jersey."[5] Amiri Baraka wrote, "Mr. Turner's breakthrough into American politics was made possible by getting into political shape the Black Central Ward and establishing a leadership category for Black People going for the Democratic Party."[12]

Tenure

He was re-elected repeatedly.[3] During his career, Turner aligned with mayors Meyer C. Ellenstein and Ralph A. Villani.[3] He helped appoint African Americans for Newark city positions, using these jobs in exchange for the support of voters which he could then provide to other politicians including Hugh Joseph Addonizio.[3][5] He pushed for more opportunities for African Americans in employment, housing, the police force and government.[3][5] He had a wide-ranging career and was involved with many issues in the Central Ward and citywide.[3] He criticized the white establishment including slumlords and officials.[5]

During his career he was featured in national magazines like Jet and Ebony.[13][14]

However, by the later 1960s, many in Newark were looking for radical change. Kenneth A. Gibson, with the support of Amiri Baraka, challenged Addonizio in the mayoral election under the banner of the United Freedom Democratic Party. George C. Richardson ran against Turner on the Gibson ticket but received only 10,000 votes.[5] In 1967, Baraka continued his criticisms of Turner, writing, "Where once [Turner] offered some actual inspiration to Black People in Newark, now he represents the impotence and incompetence of one traditional area of Negro leadership."[12]

As new organizers began to present a challenge to established politicians, Turner began criticizing the civil rights activists in Newark. He said, "Violence, rash words, or insulting remarks are not going to get my race any further ahead than they have come.”[5]

Indictment and defeat

In December 1969, Turner was indicted along with Mayor Hugh Joseph Addonizio.[15] In 1970, with opposition against Addonizio growing, Dennis Westbrooks challenged Turner and won a runoff.[5][16] Gibson defeated Addonizio for mayor, but Westbrooks was one of only two Gibson allies to win election to the Council.[16]

Personal life and death

Irvine Turner had been hospitalized on numerous occasions since the 1950s and sustained numerous strokes.[6] He died on September 9, 1974, leaving a wife and three children.[6]

Legacy

Irvine I. Turner Boulevard, a large street in Newark, is named after him.[3]

References

  1. ^ Sterling, Guy G. (2014). The Famous, the Familiar and the Forgotten. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 978-1-4990-7990-6.
  2. ^ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JK16-PMF  : 8 January 2021), Irvine Turner, Sep 1974; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Cummings, Charles F. "Irvine I. Turner: Politician Extraordinaire and Champion of Poor". Charles Cummings. Archived from the original on 2022-02-22. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
  4. ^ Mumford, Kevin (2008-11-01). Newark: A History of Race, Rights, and Riots in America. NYU Press. ISBN 978-0-8147-5989-9.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Curvin, Robert (2014-07-09). Inside Newark: Decline, Rebellion, and the Search for Transformation. Rutgers University Press. ISBN 978-0-8135-6572-9.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Terrell, Stanley E (1974-09-10). "Irvine Turner, 59, ex-Newark official". Star Ledger.
  7. ^ "Sketches of Others Indicted in Newark". timesmachine.nytimes.com.
  8. ^ a b c d "Electing the first Black Power Leader". The North | Newark. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
  9. ^ "NEWARK TO SWITCH TO COUNCIL IN 1954; Jersey's Largest City Will Cut Number of Wards as Result of Anti-Commission Vote". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  10. ^ "RUN-OFF ELECTION IN NEWARK SLATED; City Commission Approves a Listing of $58,000 for New Balloting on June 15". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  11. ^ "9 NAMED TO COUNCIL IN NEWARK RUN-OFF". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  12. ^ a b LeRoi., Jones (1971). Raise, race, rays, raze; essays since 1965. Random House. ISBN 0-394-46222-X. OCLC 773517316.
  13. ^ Ebony. Johnson Publishing Company. 1965.
  14. ^ Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 1955-06-30.
  15. ^ Grutzner, Charles. "U.S. INDICTS MAYOR OF NEWARK, 9 PRESENT OR FORMER OFFICIALS ON $253,000 EXTORTION CHARGES; ADDONIZIO ON BAIL Evasion of Tax Also Charged -- Boiardo Among Accused Mayor Addonizio Is Indicted on Extortion Charge", The New York Times, December 18, 1969. Accessed November 13, 2016. "Mayor Hugh J. Addonizio and nine present or former officials of the municipal administration in Newark were indicted yesterday by a Federal grand jury with five other persons, among whom was Anthony (Tony Boy) Boiardo, a reputed member of the Mafia."
  16. ^ a b Brooks, Thomas R. (Winter 1972). "Breakdown in Newark" (PDF). Dissent. pp. 128–37. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
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