Wilda Diaz

Read PolitickerNJ.com's The Year in Review 2008, our annual lists of Winners & Losers of the Year, Politician of the Year, Best & Worst Campaigns, Best Operatives, People to Watch, and much more.

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WISNIEWSKI:  VICTORY BRIDGE CRISIS INTERVENTION SIGNS A SENSIBLE STEP TOWARD HALTING SUICIDES

(SAYREVILLE) - Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski today praised the installation of crisis intervention information signs along the Victory Bridge, a 110-foot span connecting Perth Amboy and Sayreville that has seen many suicides and attempted suicides.

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Three women widely viewed as rising stars in the Democratic Party are likely to receive consideration for Lt. Governor next year when Jon Corzine picks a running mate: State Sens. Dana Redd (D-Camden) and Teresa Ruiz (D-Newark), and Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz. 

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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 >

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.  

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EDISON - Diners anchor what’s left of the train-track and warehouseEdison Mayor Jun Choi: Politicker file photo girded countryside in this sprawling town, fifth biggest in New Jersey, where Mayor Jun Choi drinks his coffee on a summer morning in one of the more recognizable roadside haunts called the Plaza Diner.

The suit and tie and modest demeanor belie a man restlessly at work, for if Choi was an enigmatic upstart when he hit the scene three years ago, he has built himself into a surging political force, three-fourths of the way into his first term.

"And I’m running again," he says with a smile.

The Edison-raised kid who came from the inner sanctum of Bill Bradley’s machine-bucking 2000 presidential campaign, former state Department of Education wonk, Choi remains the Democratic Party outsider in a party that still does not know quite what to do with him.

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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.

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Hundreds of Perth Amboy residents, several legislators, four mayors from neighboring towns, two congressmen and one U.S. Attorney filled the local high school’s auditorium to near capacity today to inaugurate the city’s new mayor, Wilda Diaz, for a four year term.

Diaz, the first female mayor of Perth Amboy and first Latina mayor in the state, won an upset victory against 18-year incumbent Joe Vas, who remains an Assemblyman. Also sworn in today were Diaz’s two council running mates, Kenneth Balut and Fernando Gonzales.

U.S. Rep. Albio Sires, who faced a primary challenge by Vas for his seat in 2006, introduced Diaz to a standing ovation.

Diaz, 43, began her speech by thanking Vas for his service as mayor, and acknowledged his role in the waterfront development that has revitalized parts of this old this old, industrial town of 48,000.

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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.

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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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