 On November 20 , 2012 , a melee occurred at a Newark City Council meeting attended by Booker . The nine @-@ seat council was to vote on the successor to the seat vacated by newly elected U.S. Representative Donald M. Payne , Jr . Booker 's opponents on the council , including Ras Baraka , sought to appoint John Sharpe James , son of the former mayor , while Booker and his supporters favored <unk> Speight . Booker attended the meeting to deal with the eventuality of the lack of a quorum or a tie vote , in which state law would allow him to cast a deciding vote . After Baraka was refused an opportunity to address the council by acting Council President Anibal Ramos , Jr . , Baraka and two other council members walked away in protest . Booker cast the deciding vote for Speight . Supporters of James stormed the stage and were held back by riot police , who eventually used pepper spray on some members of the crowd . Baraka later blamed Booker for inciting the disturbance , while Booker refused comment to the media after the vote . 
