Joe Vas

Joe Vas’ eighteen-year tenure as mayor of Perth Amboy came to an end today, and he’s not ready to say if he’ll seek re-election to a fourth term in the State Assembly next year.

“That’s a lifetime away.  A lot of opportunities are in front of me and I’m not rushing to make any decisions today, nor do I have to,” Vas said.

Still, despite reeling from a lopsided upset in Perth Amboy, Vas may have strengthened his hold on his Assembly seat – should he choose to run again -- by becoming the Democratic municipal chairman for Perth Amboy.

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Eight members of the New Jersey State Assembly are in danger of losing party support if they seek re-election in 2009:

PolitickerNJ.com's Winners & Losers of the Week

Joe Vas's stunning, lopsided defeat last night in Perth Amboy took most Middlesex Democrats by surprise.  Most political observers hadn't anticipated even a competitive campaign against political neophyte Wilda Diaz, let alone a route of Vas, who's held the seat since 1990, and his two council running mates.

Now, the question amongst political insiders is whether Vas, having lost handily in the town that accounts for his biggest voting base and still bruised from an unsuccessful primary challenge to Rep. Albio Sires in 2006, has the political clout to hold on to his assembly seat.

For Vas, who was just sworn in to his third assembly term in January, it's too soon to start thinking about whether he'll even run for re-election next year.