Anibal Ramos Jr. has dedicated his career to delivering practical, hands-on results for Newark. Born, raised and educated in Newark, Anibal Ramos Jr. has a track record that underscores his commitment to improving the lives of his constituents.

As a three-term member of the Newark City Council and as a public servant long before that, Councilman Ramos has established himself as a leader on the issues of crime reduction, economic development and education. He attended Rutgers University in Newark through the Educational Opportunity Fund, which offers promising young students from impoverished backgrounds the chance to succeed in college. After graduating, he went to work at Focus, a non-profit organization that helps Newarkers get back on their feet.

After he was elected to the City Council in 2006 to represent the North Ward, Councilman Ramos made public safety his priority. He has been one of the strongest supporters of the police department, consistently voting to provide officers with the tools they need to fight crime. He was the sponsor of an ordinance requiring cameras in establishments that serve alcohol, as well as a measure that will allow residents to anonymously report crime with their smart phones.

Under his leadership, partnerships were established with other law enforcement agencies, including the bordering towns of Belleville, Bloomfield and East Orange as well as the Sheriff’s Department and the Prosecutor’s Office. Neighborhood associations were established that work closely with police to keep neighborhoods crime free.

As a result of Councilman Ramos's leadership, recreational opportunities have been expanded in the North Ward, including opening the new Waterfront Recreation Center and the new Newark School Stadium as well as renovating Elmwood Park and Kasberger Field.

Councilman Ramos is also strongly committed to creating jobs and bringing economic development to the North Ward. While on council, he established the Mt. Prospect Neighborhood Improvement District, which helped create a thriving business district in the heart of the North Ward. More recently, he worked to create the Bloomfield Avenue/Lower Broadway improvement district.

During his tenure on the Newark school board, including two terms as chair, Councilman Ramos worked to drastically improve public education. He is committed to ensuring that every child in Newark has access to quality public education. In 2014, Councilman Ramos founded the Anibal Ramos Jr. Civic Association, a non-profit organization that provides scholarships to help Newark students pay for high school and college. 

He believes that Newark deserves a school board elected by local residents and that decisions about Newark’s schools should never be made without the direct input of local parents.