Jack O'Leary

Barry Adler, a Woodbridge veterinarian who challenged now-indicted Assemblyman Joseph Vas (D-Perth Amboy) at the 2007 Middlesex County Democratic Convention and lost 200-65, has filed to run as an Independent candidate for State Assembly in the nineteenth district.  The son-in-law of former Middlesex County Democratic Chairman Nicholas Venezia, Adler raised $100,000 for his Assembly bid two years ago and has $90,000 remaining in his account.  He'll face incumbent John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) and his new running mate, South Amboy Mayor Jack O'Leary, and Republicans Peter Kothari and Richard Piatkowski.

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State Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Woodbridge) today called on his indicted district-mate, Assemblyman Joseph Vas (D-Perth Amboy), to resign.

“In light of the variety and extent of the charges, Assemblyman Vas should resign his seat immediately so the people and voters of the 19th Legislative District can have their government serve them in a way that’s unencumbered by these charges,” Vitale told PolitickerNJ.com in a phone interview.

Vas was charged with 11 corruption counts today related to his time mayor of Perth Amboy.  He was defeated in an upset last year by current mayor Wilda Diaz.  

Vas is already facing a primary challenge for his assembly seat from South Amboy Mayor Jack O’Leary.  Middlesex County Democrats will award the party line to two assembly candidates at a convention this month.

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If Democratic leaders follow the precedent set when Alfred Steele and Mims Hackett were arrested in 2007, there will be a call for Assemblyman Joseph Vas (D-Perth Amboy) to resign his seat.  That ends the Middlesex County Democratic convention fight between Vas and South Amboy Mayor Jack O'Leary. 

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The race to watch this month is in the nineteenth district, where South Amboy Mayor Jack O'Leary is challenging incumbent Joseph Vas for the Democratic State Assembly nomination.  The Middlesex County Democratic organization will decide which candidate will run on the line at their March 18 convention.  Local pundits suggest that the race could be close. 

The other incumbent, Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) has no apparent obstacles in his bid for renomination.

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As expected, South Amboy Mayor Jack O'Leary will seek the Democratic nomination for State Assembly against incumbent Joseph Vas.  Vas' political security has been at risk since last May, when he was defeated for re-election as Mayor of Perth Amboy.  O'Leary says he's not targeting Vas, but he is - it's not about the other Democratic Assemblyman from the nineteenth district, John Wisniewski.

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The Asbury Park Press is reporting that "federal and state law enforcement officials are investigating activities connected to the previous city administration headed by former Mayor Joseph Vas."  Wilda Diaz, who ousted Vas in the mayoral election last spring, confirmed that prosecutors have requested certain information.  This won't help Vas keep his State Assembly seat in 2009. Read More >

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.

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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. 

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