Wilda Diaz

It’s only been about five weeks since Joseph Vas left his post as Mayor of Perth Amboy, but he’s already mulling a comeback.  Vas wants to challenge incumbent Wilda Diaz, who beat him handily last May, in 2012.  

The two possible ’09 gubernatorial candidates were on the campaign trail yesterday, both attending the swearing in of the recently elected members of the Jackson Township Council.  Governor Jon Corzine administered the oath of office to Michael Kafton, and U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie swore in Michael Reina.  While Jackson holds non-partisan elections, Kafton is a Democrat and Reina is a Republican.

Joe Vas’ eighteen-year tenure as mayor of Perth Amboy came to an end today, and he’s not ready to say if he’ll seek re-election to a fourth term in the State Assembly next year.

“That’s a lifetime away. A lot of opportunities are in front of me and I’m not rushing to make any decisions today, nor do I have to,” Vas said.

Still, despite reeling from a lopsided upset in Perth Amboy, Vas may have strengthened his hold on his Assembly seat – should he choose to run again -- by becoming the Democratic municipal chairman for Perth Amboy.

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.