Joe Vas

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.

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U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews, Assemblyman John Wisniewski, and John Rutkowski
PERTH AMBOY - A city of wrought iron fire escapes hugs the waterfront to east of the highways, where in a banquet hall behind the ZPA Cocktail Lounge on Saturday night, U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews goes from table to table with Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex).

The 100 people here representing the United Poles in America ZPA embrace Wisniewski as one of their own, the powerful chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee, who grew up among them in Sayreville, and who’s represented them for over 12 years.

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QUIGLEY/VAS BILL LIMITING HANDGUN PURCHASES TO ONE A MONTH CLEARS COMMITTEE HURDLE

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assemblywoman Joan M. Quigley and Assemblyman Joseph Vas sponsored to make it illegal for people to purchase more than one handgun a month in New Jersey - a restriction that would help curtail gun access by criminal street gangs - was released today by the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee. Read More >

Standing on the steps of City Hall this evening shortly before the start of the cityPerth Amboy Mayor Joseph Vas council meeting, Perth Amboy Mayor (and Assemblyman) Joseph Vas announced his intentions to again run for the office of mayor, according to his aide Mel Ramos.

"Being mayor of Perth Amboy is not just about where we have been or what we have accomplished. It is about where we are going, our plans to get there, and having the vision and know-how to get there," said Vas.

"I am committed to continue my vision of change and progress for the betterment of every resident in the City of Perth Amboy, and am as energized today as I was when I first took the oath of office as your Mayor.

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The Home News Tribune has endorsed Democratic Assemblymen Joe Vas and John Wisniewski for re-election in the 19th district.  READ

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 WOODBRIDGE – On Wednesday, May 9, State lawmakers and regulators and local leaders will hold a news conference at a contaminated industrial site on Pennval Road in Woodbridge to propose tougher, modernized penalties to help clean up our communities in the Garden State.

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Joe Vas' campaign research director, Donna Gefter, filed a lawsuit against Vas for Congress today, alleging that Vas failed to pay her more than $4,000 for opposition research she conducted on former Assembly Speaker Albio Sires. Sires defeated Vas on Tuesday by a 75%-25% margin. The suit, filed in Middlesex County, comes a day after Vas announced that property taxes in Perth Amboy will go up abolut 50%.

Last February, Vas made a big deal about Sires campaign staff checking out his record in Perth Amboy. Vas told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he would prefer to talk about issues than the "politics of personal destruction."

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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.

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What Is Vas Hiding In The Perth Amboy Budget?
Secrecy and Lack of Disclosure Surrounds Vas’ Budget

West New York – The Albio Sires for Congress campaign today called on Perth Amboy Mayor Joe Vas to stop hiding revenue relating to his FY 2006 budget. The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs has notified Vas that it refuses to approve his budget because he has repeatedly refused to supply the department with “items of revenue,� despite repeated requests from the DCA over a six month period.

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