Wilda Diaz

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."

Mayor-elect Wilda Diaz Joins Coalition of Middlesex County Officials for Andrews

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.

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.

Perth Amboy Mayor Joe Vas lost re-election tonightJoseph Vas, the Mayor of Perth Amboy since 1990, was defeated in his bid for a sixth term tonight, losing by wide margin to Wilda Diaz, a political newcomer and community activist. Diaz defeated Vas by a 61%-39% margin, 4,095-2,658. Diaz’s slate of Council candidates also won.

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. 

Nine New Jersey municipalities will elect mayors in next Tuesday’s non-partisan election: Bradley Beach, Cape May City, Delran, Mahwah, Montclair, Orange, Perth Amboy, Spotswood, and Vineland.

Orange Mayor Mims Hackett, who was indicted last October on charges that he accepted a bribe, is not a candidate for re-election. Six candidates are running to replace him: Councilwoman Tency Eason, Councilman Donald Page; Planning Board Chairman Dwight Holmes; attorney Eldridge Hawkins, Jr., the son of a former Assemblyman;

Vineland Mayor Perry Barse faces a strong challenge in his bid for a third term from Robert Romano, a police lieutenant and the son of Barse’s predecessor. Also running for mayor is Nicholas Girone, a former school administrator.

In Montclair, incumbent Edward Remsen is not seeking re-election – the latest in a long string of one-term mayors. Councilwoman Joyce Michaelson, Councilman Ted Maddox and BikeMontclair founder Jerry Fried are the mayoral candidates.