Product Code Database
Melvin Randolph "Randy" Primas, Jr. (August 31, 1949 – March 1, 2012) was an American politician who served as the first African-American Mayor of Camden, New Jersey from 1981 to 1990. He was succeeded by fellow African American Aaron A. Thomson.
Primas would be elected to three consecutive terms in the mayor's office, serving until 1990. However, his support for several urban renewal projects, including the construction of the now demolished Riverfront State Prison, earned him criticism from some community leaders and residents. Primas left office in 1990 when New Jersey Governor Jim Florio appointed to him as the Commissioner on the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, succeeding Anthony M. Villane.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."
He served as a trustee for Rowan University from 1993 to 1999. Primas worked as an executive for Commerce Capital Markets, which was part of Commerce Bank at the time, during the early 2000.
In 2002, Primas was appointed the first chief operating officer (COO) of Camden by the state government, shortly before New Jersey took control of the city. He retired from the post in 2006 following a public dispute with Community Affairs Commissioner Susan Bass Levin over a memorandum of understanding which Primas had refused to sign.
Primas moved to Fort Mill, South Carolina, following his retirement. He was later diagnosed with bone-marrow cancer and died at a hospital in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on March 1, 2012, at the age of 62. He was survived by his wife, Bonita, and two sons, Melvin Primas III and Craig Primas. Primas' funeral, which was held at the St. John Baptist Church in East Camden, was attended by numerous Camden and New Jersey political dignitaries, including Camden Mayor Dana Redd, former Mayor Gwendolyn Faison, U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews, Former Governor Jim Florio, state Senator Donald Norcross, and state Assemblyman Gilbert "Whip" Wilson. Camden Mayor Redd ordered all municipal flags to fly at half staff.
See also
Categories: 2012 Deaths, 20th-century Mayors Of Places In New Jersey, Mayors Of Camden, New Jersey, New Jersey City Council Members, New Jersey Democrats, African-american Mayors In New Jersey, Howard University Alumni, People From Fort Mill, South Carolina, 1949 Births, Commissioners Of The New Jersey Department Of Community Affairs, African-american State Cabinet Secretaries, Deaths From Cancer In North Carolina, Deaths From Multiple Myeloma In The United States, American Chief Operating Officers, 20th-century African-american Politicians, 21st-century African-american Politicians
|
|
