ALBIO SIRES FOR CONGRESS

NO SHOW VAS

(West New York) -- In a blatant dereliction of responsibility, Perth Amboy Mayor and Assemblyman Joe Vas has established a pattern of refusing to fulfill his responsibilities as both an elected official and a candidate for Congress in the 13th District. According to news reports, Vas has been a no show at 80% of his Assembly committee hearings, a no show at a meeting with the Department of Community Affairs where his Perth Amboy tax increase was discussed, a no show in approving his municipal budget, a no show in filing to run for a special election to complete now-Senator Bob Menendez's term in the House of Representatives, a no show in filing his personal financial disclosure reports with the Clerk of the House of Representatives on time, and a no show in filing his campaign finance reports with the Federal Election Commission on time.

NO SHOW VAS:
The 2005-2006 Perth Amboy municipal budget began on June 30th, 2005. As of May 26th, 2006, Vas has still not adopted his municipal budget, which is now eleven months late. [Star-Ledger, 5/26/06]

NO SHOW VAS:
Vas refused to attend a meeting with the Department of Community Affairs yesterday, where DCA cited at least $5 million in nonexistent revenue that Perth Amboy had presented to the state. As a result of Vas' negligence, the average Perth Amboy resident this year faces a tax hike that could be as high as $743. [Star-Ledger, 5/26/06]

NO SHOW VAS:
Vas has missed 4 out of 5 Assembly committee hearings since he began his campaign for Congress. Vas has also missed 21 out of 22 Assembly Budget Committee hearings, where this year's state budget is considered before it goes to the full Assembly for a vote. [Gannett, 5/26/06]

NO SHOW VAS:
Despite pontificating on the need for a special election for weeks, Vas failed to file petitions to run in a special election to fill the remainder of now-Senator Bob Menendez's unexpired House term. [Star-Ledger, 4/23/06; New Jersey Network News, 4/11/06]

NO SHOW VAS:
Vas filed his personal financial disclosure report with the Clerk of the House of Representatives months after the filing deadline – and only after reporters questioned his failure to file. [Clerk of the House of Representatives, 3/06]

NO SHOW VAS:
As of this morning, Vas has still not filed his campaign finance reports with the Federal Election Commission. The reports were due at midnight last night.

"If Joe Vas won't show up to fulfill his responsibilities as mayor and Assemblyman, there is no doubt that he would not show up to fulfill his responsibilities as a member of Congress," said Sires spokesperson Julie Roginsky. "His dereliction of duty as a mayor and a legislator demonstrates a basic lack of respect for the constituents he represents today and for the constituents he hopes to represent in the future."

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