Anthony Chiappone

BAYONNE - You won't need the back slash anymore to refer to Assemblyman/Councilman Tony Chiappone (D-Bayonne), who today notified the Bayonne Clerk that he would give up his council seat.

Sources say the local renegade who joined the Hudson County Democratic Organzation (HCDO)-backed state Sen. Sandra Cunningham (D-Jersey City) in 2007, will remain on the HCDO ticket this year.

Although he led a charge against establishment Democrat Mark Smith in the mayor's race last year and suffered a lopsided defeat - Chiappone's close ties to Cunningham preserved him here.

Part of Cunningham's decision not to oppose Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy hinged on Healy's pledge to protect Chiappone in Bayonne.

Healy, the chair of the HCDO, agreed - providing Chiappone surrender his dual office holding status to enabe Mayor Smith to have another ally on council.

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CHIAPPONE/WISNIEWSKI/LAMPITT BILL PACKAGE TO IMPROVE TEEN DRIVER SAFETY PASSES ASSEMBLY

Four-Bill Package Implements Priority Recommendations of the March 2008 Teen Driver Study Commission's Final Report

(TRENTON) - Assembly members Anthony Chiappone, John S. Wisniewski and Pamela R. Lampitt today issued a multimedia package on a legislative package they sponsored to improve teen driver safety in New Jersey, which was approved today by the General Assembly.

The bills would implement the top recommendations of the state's Teen Driver Study Commission.

The multimedia package consists of a video press release on the legislative package, audio of same and quotes from the sponsors.

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CHIAPPONE/RAMOS/EVANS BILL CREATING NJ COLON CANCER EDUCATION FUND ADVANCES

(TRENTON) - Legislation sponsored by Assembly members Anthony Chiappone, Ruben J. Ramos, Jr. and Elease Evans to establish the "New Jersey Colon Cancer Education Fund" has been released by an Assembly panel.

The legislation (A-2519) would allow taxpayers to voluntary contribute to the fund through a check-off on state corporate and personal income tax returns.

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Twelve New Jersey legislators, all from districts that are not especially competitive in general election contests, face potential obstacles in their bid to win party support for another term.

Click here to view the slideshow

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Twelve New Jersey legislators, all from districts that are not especially competitive in general election contests, face potential obstacles in their bid to win party support for another term. Click here to view the slideshow

The announcement last week that Assemblyman Harvey Smith will run for Mayor of Jersey City means there will be an open State Assembly seat in Hudson County’s 31st district, which includes part of Jersey City and all of Bayonne.  The two key players in deciding who represents this district in the State Assembly are Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy (the Hudson County Democratic Chairman) and State Sen. Sandra Bolden Cunningham.  If Healy and Cunningham get together – which would mean Healy would be seeking re-election with the endorsement of his predecessor’s widow – than the endorsement of the Hudson County Democratic Organization may be tantamount to election this year.

Also at stake is the seat of Anthony Chiappone, a two-term Assemblyman (2004-06 and 2008-date) from Bayonne.  Chiappone is at odds with the newly-elected Mayor Bayonne, Mark Smith, a Healy ally.  But Cunningham likes Chiappone, who ran with her late husband in 2003 and with her in 2007.  If a deal for Cunningham to endorse Healy in the mayoral race includes keeping Chiappone in the Assembly, then Chiappone will likely return to Trenton.

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CHIAPPONE/WISNIEWSKI/LAMPITT MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE ON LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE TEEN DRIVER SAFETY

Four-Bill Package Implements Priority Recommendations of the March 2008 Teen Driver Study Commission's Final Report

(TRENTON) - Assembly members Anthony Chiappone, John S. Wisniewski and Pamela R. Lampitt today issued a multimedia package on their legislation to improve teen driver safety in New Jersey, which was unanimously released yesterday by the Assembly Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee.

The four-bill package would implement the top recommendations of the state's Teen Driver Study Commission.

Read More >

CHIAPPONE/WISNIEWSKI/LAMPITT BILL PACKAGE TO IMPROVE TEEN DRIVER SAFETY ADVANCES

Four-Bill Package Implements Priority Recommendations of the March 2008 Teen Driver Study Commission's Final Report

(TRENTON) - A legislative package sponsored by Assembly members Anthony Chiappone, John S. Wisniewski and Pamela R. Lampitt to improve teen driver safety in New Jersey was released today by the Assembly Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee.

The bills would implement the top recommendations of the state's Teen Driver Study Commission.

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BAYONNE – Running off the line last year, attorney Nicholas Chiaravalloti lost his race for the Assembly in District 31, and doesn’t yet know if he will run next year.

“I haven’t ruled it out, but honestly, I haven’t even thought about it,” said the former state director for Sen. Robert Menendez (D-Hoboken), who recently opened his own law practice in Bayonne. “Between all of the Obama ads and the mail for the Bayonne mayor’s race, I don’t even want to think about politics right now.

 “I love what I’m doing and I love my quality of life,” added Chiaravalloti. “I know (Bayonne Mayor) Mark Smith, and I supported Mark Smith. He’s not giving a second thought to anything political at the moment.”

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