Joseph Vas

Hundreds of Perth Amboy residents, several legislators, four mayors from neighboring towns, two congressmen and one U.S. Attorney filled the local high school’s auditorium to near capacity today to inaugurate the city’s new mayor, Wilda Diaz, for a four year term. 

Diaz, the first female mayor of Perth Amboy and first Latina mayor in the state, won an upset victory against 18-year incumbent Joe Vas, who remains an Assemblyman.  Also sworn in today were Diaz’s two council running mates, Kenneth Balut and Fernando Gonzales.

U.S. Rep. Albio Sires, who faced a primary challenge by Vas for his seat in 2006, introduced Diaz to a standing ovation. 

Diaz, 43, began her speech by thanking Vas for his service as mayor, and acknowledged his role in the waterfront development that has revitalized parts of this old this old, industrial town of 48,000. 

Several new mayors will take office today after winning the May 13 non-partisan municipal elections, including Wilda Diaz in Perth Amboy, Eldridge Hawkins, Jr. in Orange, Jerry Fried in Montclair, Robert Romano in Vineland, and Edward Mahaney in Cape May City.

Joseph Vas, who won just 39% of the vote last month in his bid for re-election to a sixth term as Mayor of Perth Amboy, was elected Democratic Municipal Chairman last night. Vas, a two-term Assemblyman, defeated Jim Nanton, 35-6. Ray Geneske, the longtime Democratic Chairman and a staunch Vas ally, did not seek re-election.

Joe Cryan calls Jim Devine "a sleaze ball, the worst in politics."In December 2007, James Devine, a Union County political operative/newspaper publisher, was arrested for owing $20,000 in child support and alimony.

It was the latest fall from grace for Devine, a former Union County Democratic insider.  Devine had been, as recently as a few years ago, a somewhat important operative in local political circles, running three weekly newspapers in Union County that depended heavily on financing from county advertisements and legal notices.  But when that revenue stream abruptly ended, Devine was out of business and out of luck - a turn of events he blames on Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, a former political ally who he had a falling out with in the early 1990s. 

Now he's working to beat Bollwage, who is seeking re-election in the June 3 Democratic primary.

But Devine's detractors hold nothing but venom for a man they characterize as a charlatan who has mucked up the political scene in Union County for decades, and who recently had his bank account frozen for owing tens of thousands in back taxes - something Devine blames on bad legal advice and child support payments.

Some public officials who are used to choosing their words carefully don't hesitate to go on the record slamming Devine. 

"He's a sleaze ball, the worst in politics," said Democratic State Chairman Joseph Cryan, who also represents Union County in the State Assembly.  "If they pay him anything, I hope he used it towards his child support."

Democratic Senate candidate Rob Andrews today picked up the support of Perth Amboy Mayor-elect Wilda Diaz.

Two weeks ago, Diaz stunningly upset incumbent Mayor Joseph Vas, who has  held the seat since 1990 and is also an Assemblyman. She likened the Andrews campaign to her own.

Of the four Mayors running in yesterday’s non-partisan municipal election who are elected directly by the voters, only one survived: Mahwah Mayor Richard Martel defeated former Councilman Gary Paton by a 64%-36% margin. Incumbents were defeated in Vineland, Perth Amboy and Cape May City. Mayors did not seek re-election in Orange (where Mims Hackett is under federal indictment), Montclair, Delran, Bradley Beach and Spotswood.

Perth Amboy Mayor Joe Vas lost re-election tonightJoseph Vas, the Mayor of Perth Amboy since 1990, was defeated in his bid for a sixth term tonight, losing by wide margin to Wilda Diaz, a political newcomer and community activist. Diaz defeated Vas by a 61%-39% margin, 4,095-2,658. Diaz’s slate of Council candidates also won.

The upset defeat of Perth Amboy Mayor Joseph Vas will impact next year’s race for the Legislature.  Sources say that Vas, without his power base as Mayor, is now likely to lose Democratic Party support if he seeks re-election to the State Assembly.  One possible candidate to replace him is Jack O’Leary, the Mayor of South Amboy.