Ron Rice, Jr.- One of Our Own. . .
Ready, Prepared, and Able To Lead The West Ward

Ron, a recognized advocate for innovative urban initiatives and voter empowerment in Newark, is a third generation Newark resident and son of the West Ward having lived his early formative years in the ward’s Vailsburg section and at the Georgia King Village housing complex. He attended Alexander Street School and was enrolled in the Newark School District’s Gifted and Talented Program at Louise A. Spencer School where he was a consistent honor role student.

Delving into politics at the young age of 10, Ron learned the political “ropes” from his father, State Senator Ronald L. Rice (D-28 th) by working with him on every political campaign his father was involved with including his father’s own election as a county committeeman in 1980 and as West Ward Councilman in 1982.

Ron graduated from the Pingry School, consistently ranked in the top 40 of the best secondary schools in the nation, in 1986. While attending Pingry, Ron was a stand-out track athlete, formed the Awareness Society and was recognized for his academic excellence. Ron also sang and served as an Assistant Choir Director of the New Jersey Mass Choir, most prominently known for their 1985 hit single “I Want To Know What Love Is” with the rock group Foreigner. Politically, Ron worked on the campaign of his father’s initial election to the New Jersey State Senate in 1986 and as the Youth Coordinator for Sharpe James’ successful first campaign for Mayor in 1986.

In 1986, Ron began his matriculation at the American University in Washington, DC where he received his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Political Science in 1990 and minored in Public Administration. While at American, Ron interned on Capitol Hill for a US congressman and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. He also served on the Executive Board of the AU College Democrats and as the Political Director of the AU Black Student Alliance. In 1988, Ron was initiated into the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and was the campus director of the Students for Jesse Jackson for President ’88 effort. Ron was an instrumental part of that campaign’s upset victory in the Virginia caucuses in 1988.

In 1991, Ron began his matriculation at the Seton Hall University, School of Law in Newark, NJ and received his Juris Doctorate (JD) degree in 1995. In 1993, he served as the assistant Essex County Coordinator for the Re-Election effort for Gov. Jim Florio ’93 and became the first African-American President of the Essex County Young Democrats. In 1998, Ron served as the West Ward Coordinator for his father’s unsuccessful campaign for Mayor of the City of Newark against Mayor Sharpe James.

Ron has worked in a variety of public policy arenas for over twelve years. From 1993-1995, Ron served as a Law Clerk in the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Appellate Division. From 1995-1996, he served as a criminal Law Clerk to the Hon. Jared D. Honigfeld, J.S.C. in the Essex County Vicinage. In 1999, as a Policy Analyst for the Deputy Commissioner at the New Jersey Department of Education, Ron wrote the regulations for implementing the Abbott decision that enabled the Newark school district to receive millions in additional funding for universal pre-school and classroom teaching. He also directed the comprehensive review of all DOE regulations for two years. Ron currently serves as a spokesman with the state Department of Education.

In 2002, Ron ran for Newark Councilman-At-Large under the slogan, “A New Generation Offers a Leader” and as a member of the Booker Team for Newark ticket. In the municipal election, Ron came in fourth for one of four at-large positions, but lost in the run-off election by just under 250 votes. In losing, Ron received more votes than any previous first time candidate for citywide office in the history of Newark!!! Ron is very active in his community and listed below are just a few of the many organizations he leads or is a member of:

• President, West Ward Development Corporation and West Ward Education Fund
• Founder, The Brothers Club
• President, REFORM NEWARK
• Vice-President, Vailsburg Park Association
• Member, Steering Committee, Democracy for America, Essex County Chapter
• Advisory Board Member, Newark Civic Health Survey Initiative-Center for Civic Responsibility
• Member, Board of Trustees/Assistant Choir Director/Youth Choir Director, St. James AME Church, Newark, NJ
• Member, Board of Directors, Newark NOW
• Member, Pingry Alumni Association

Ron has travelled throughout the nation and studied new urban strategies regarding city governance, crime and safety initiatives and decentralizing city government power to the masses of people. Ron has spoken on urban public policy and political reform in Newark to such diverse groups as Leadership New Jersey, Common Cause, the NJ Historical Society, Leadership Newark and various schools and other community organizations. In 2001, he was named one of New Jersey’s 50 Best Rising Stars by www. politicsnj.com. Ron is currently a contributing editor to www.foxnews.com and www.jerseypolitics.com. He has served as an advisor to the Newark local organizing committee (LOC) of the NJ Million Man March committee, the Chancellor Avenue Corporation, the Newark Pride Alliance, Newark ACE, Vailsburg Block Association Council (VBAC), and many more community organizations and empowerment initiatives.  

RON RICE, JR.: OUR FUTURE…RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!!!