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Randy Primas

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Randy Primas
Commissioner of theNew Jersey Department of Community Affairs
In office
January 18, 1990 – September 18, 1992
GovernorJames Florio
Preceded byAnthony M. Villane
Succeeded byStephanie R. Bush
Mayor of Camden, New Jersey
In office
1981–1990
Preceded byAngelo Errichetti
Succeeded byAaron Thompson
Personal details
Born
Melvin Randolph Primas, Jr.

(1949-08-31)August 31, 1949[1]
Camden, New Jersey
DiedMarch 1, 2012(2012-03-01)(aged 62)
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseBonita Primas

Melvin Randolph "Randy" Primas, Jr.(August 31, 1949 – March 1, 2012) was an Americanpoliticianwho served as the firstAfrican-AmericanMayorofCamden, New Jerseyfrom 1981 to 1990.[2][3]He was succeeded by fellow African American Aaron A. Thomson.[4]

Biography

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Early life

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Primas was raised inCamden, New Jerseyas a member of one of the city's most prominent families.[3]He earned abachelor's degreefromHoward UniversityinWashington, D.C.,in 1971.[2]Primas then joined the Black People's Unity Movement when he returned to Camden.[2]Before becoming mayor, Primas was the Vice President of Burger King Entities, an economic-development program sponsored by the Black People's Unity Movement.[3]

Political career

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Primas was elected to the Camden City Council when he was just 23 years old, quickly rising to become the council's president.[2][3]In the early 1980s, Camden MayorAngelo Errichettiwas indicted by U.S. federal authorities in the wake of theAbscamscandal[3]and Primas subsequently won the 1981 mayoral election, becoming the first African-American mayor in the city's history.[3]He was 31 years old at the time of his election.[3]

Primas would be elected to three consecutive terms in the mayor's office, serving until 1990.[2][3]However, his support for severalurban renewalprojects, including the construction of the now demolishedRiverfront State Prison,earned him criticism from some community leaders and residents.[3]Primas left office in 1990 whenNew Jersey GovernorJim Florioappointed to him as the Commissioner on theNew Jersey Department of Community Affairs,succeedingAnthony M. Villane.[2][5]

He served as atrusteeforRowan Universityfrom 1993 to 1999.[3]Primas worked as an executive for Commerce Capital Markets, which was part of Commerce Bank at the time, during the early 2000.[3]

In 2002, Primas was appointed the firstchief operating officer(COO) of Camden by the state government, shortly before New Jersey took control of the city.[2][3]He retired from the post in 2006 following a public dispute with Community Affairs CommissionerSusan Bass Levinover amemorandum of understandingwhich Primas had refused to sign.[2][3]

Primas moved toFort Mill, South Carolina,following his retirement.[2]He was later diagnosed with bone-marrow cancer and died at a hospital inChapel Hill, North Carolina,on March 1, 2012, at the age of 62.[2]He was survived by his wife, Bonita, and two sons, Melvin Primas III and Craig Primas.[3]Primas' funeral, which was held at the St. John Baptist Church inEast Camden,was attended by numerous Camden and New Jersey political dignitaries, including Camden MayorDana Redd,former MayorGwendolyn Faison,U.S. Rep.Rob Andrews,Former Governor Jim Florio, state SenatorDonald Norcross,and state AssemblymanGilbert "Whip" Wilson.[2]Camden Mayor Redd ordered all municipal flags to fly at half staff.[3]

References

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  1. ^"Melvin Randolph Primas Jr. Obituary (2012) Courier Post".Legacy.
  2. ^abcdefghijkVargas, Clauia (March 9, 2012)."Current and former S.J. politicos attend funeral of former Camden Mayor Randy Primas".Philadelphia Inquirer(Camden Flow).RetrievedMarch 11,2012.
  3. ^abcdefghijklmnoO'Brien, Reity (March 4, 2012)."Melvin R." Randy "Primas Jr., Camden's first African American mayor, dies at 62".Philadelphia Inquirer.RetrievedMarch 11,2012.
  4. ^"Jet".Johnson Publishing Company. November 26, 1990.
  5. ^Gonzales, Patrisia."Primas Job May Go To Thompson Council Makes Its Pick Today",The Philadelphia Inquirer,January 17, 1990. Accessed September 1, 2016. "Primas succeeds Anthony M. Villane Jr. of Monmouth County, who headed the agency since July 1988 after six terms in the General Assembly."
Preceded by Mayor of Camden, New Jersey
1981–1990
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commissioner of theNew Jersey Department of Community Affairs
1990–1992
Succeeded by