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By California Black Media
Sacramento-based attorney, businessman and activist James Sweeney, who was an avuncular and towering African American figure in California political and social circles, has passed. He served as the regional Vice President of the Sacramento Black American Political Action Committee (BAPAC).
Politicians, businesspeople, media leaders, activists and others up and down the state remember him with fondness for his influential and inspirational presence in their lives. Consistently offering sound advice, they say, always giving them his unconditional support, kind words of encouragement and occasionally sharing dry “uncle” jokes.
James W. Sweeney was born in Fresno, California on July 28, 1948 to the union of Lonnie Lee Sweeney and Evelyn Randle. He is the younger of two sons born to this union. Sweeney’s parents, and his brother Sherman Sr., preceded him in death.
“James Sweeney’s leadership and wisdom will be missed,” said Betty Williams, President of the Sacramento Chapter of the NAACP.
James W. Sweeney was the Founder and Managing General Partner of James W. Sweeney and Associates, an advocacy and small business consulting firm located adjacent to the State Capitol. James worked with major companies and clients and was involved in deals exceeding 3.5 billion dollars. James was founding stockholder of Revere Bank. Starting with twenty million in assets, the bank now exceeds one billion in assets. James was co-owner of First Federal Financial Services, a credit card processing firm that has successfully processed over 500 million in transactions.
“He will truly be missed,” said Rory Kaufman, President of BAPAC, the largest African political fundraising organization in the state. “A Black man of vision, courage and insight. He stood for us and he fought with us.”
Throughout his career, Sweeney has been involved in a number of business investments across the state, and has worked in several political capacities, including the Berkeley City Council and the state Council on Mentally Ill Offenders (COMIO). He has served COMIO under four governors: Newsom, Brown, Schwarzenegger and Davis.
Sweeney attended San Bernardino high school in the Inland Empire, east of Los Angeles, where he was a basketball star.
He later graduated with a bachelor’s degree in three majors (Political Science, Black Studies and Sociology) from the University of California Riverside. He earned his law degree at the Humphreys School of Law in Stockton.
“This is sad news for our community,” said Kendra Lewis, vice chair of the California Democratic Party African American Caucus (CDPAAC).
Sweeney was a quiet force in California politics. Often working behind the scenes, he was instrumental in setting up a minimum-security juvenile detention facility for children in California named after him (Camp Sweeney). He also worked on California divesting from the African nation of Sudan because of war crimes the Arab government committed against Black citizens in the country’s Darfur region.
“In true Sweeney fashion,” Lewis said the last time she saw her “mentor,” he told her, “You have our support. Let us know what you need.”
James W. Sweeney was called home on February 27, 2020. His memories will always be cherished by his loving wife, Renee; his devoted adopted siblings, Jerry King and Toni Turner; his children, Wayne Sweeney, Jr. (Angela); Samantha Stonework- Hand (Eric); and Brett Sweeney; his grandchildren, Shayne Sweeney, Ronan Sweeney, Xavier Hand, and Roosevelt Hand; and a host of other family and friends.
No funeral arrangements, as of yet, have been made.
