Anthony Chiappone
Encyclopedia
Anthony Chiappone is an American
Democratic Party
politician
, who served in the New Jersey
General Assembly
, where he represented the 31st legislative district. He had served in the Assembly for one term, from 2004–2005, and won a second term in November 2007.
He officially resigned on July 20, 2010, after pressure to resign.
Chiappone also served as a Councilman-at-Large for the city of Bayonne
having won his third four year term in May 2006,until April 2009 when he resigned. Chiappone has served on the Bayonne City Council since 1998, as a Councilman-at-Large since 2002 and representing Bayonne's First Ward from 1998-2002. As a City Council Member, Chiappone sits on the Board of School Estimate Committee, the Bayonne Economic Development Committee, the Cable TV Committee, member of the CDBG Committee, is member of the Bayonne Economic Opportunity Foundation, and a Commissioner of the Base Local Redevelopment Agency which oversees development of Bayonne's Peninsula.
He simultaneously held a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly and on the City Council. This dual position, often called double dipping, was allowed under a grandfather clause in the state law enacted by the New Jersey Legislature
and signed into law by Governor of New Jersey
Jon Corzine
in September 2007 that prevents dual-office-holding but allows those who had held both positions as of February 1, 2008, to retain both posts.
Chiappone began his career in politics in 1994, when he produced a local Public-access television
program called "Bayonne Sunnyside Up," which focused on the community events that take place in Bayonne. Chiappone then created the community action program, "Bayonne Public Forum." Through this Government-access television (GATV) venue, he televised meetings of the Bayonne Municipal Council, Hudson County
Board of Chosen Freeholders
, local school board meetings and Bayonne Zoning & Planning Board meetings. It was through this civic participation that Chiappone became involved in local government and politics. Chiappone at that time created the civic activist watchdog group called REACT (REsponsible ACTion in Government). As an Independent municipal candidate in 2002 having successfully defeated the Council candidates of his political adversary Bayonne Mayor and Assemblyman of the 31st District Joseph V. Doria, Chiappone was selected by then Jersey City Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham to run on his legislative team in the 31st District. Along with Lou Manzo, Chiappone and Glenn Cunningham successfully defeated Joe Doria's 31st District Democratic team of Joseph V. Doria, L. Harvey Smith
and Elba Perez-Cinciarelli in the June 2003 Primary election. Following the death of Glenn Cunningham, Chiappone ran unsuccessfully for Senate against Joseph V. Doria in the Special election to fill the vacancy in November 2004. Chiappone was then defeated in the Democratic Primary in June 2005 by the team of Louis Manzo and Jersey City Superintendent Charles T. Epps Jr.
. After once again defeating "Team Doria" for the non-partisan 2006 Bayonne municipal election for the position of Councilman At-Large, Chiappone aligned himself with the wife of deceased Glenn Cunningham, Sandra Bolden Cunningham
, to once again seek state legislative office in the 31st District. Along with running-mate L. Harvey Smith
, Chiappone defeated the team of Nicholas Chiaravrolloti and Sheila Moses-Newton for Assembly in the Democratic primary in 2007, thus essentially winning the election as they were running unopposed in the general election. Chiappone and Smith were sworn in as assemblymen in January 2008.
On August 26, 2009, Chiappone and his wife, Diane, were indicted on seven counts, including theft by deception, official misconduct, tampering with public records, falsifying records, conspiracy, and misrepresentation of contributions or expenditures. Chiappone allegedly issued over $8,000 in state-issued paychecks to campaign volunteers in 2005, then diverting the money into his personal accounts and his campaign fund (without declaring it on his campaign finance forms). Each New Jersey legislator is provided with $110,000 in taxpayer funds annually to pay legislative aides; Chiappone and his wife allegedly abused his power as a legislator and committed theft by deception by funneling some of those funds into their personal accounts. In spite of the charges against him and calls for his resignation from Governor Jon Corzine
and Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Chiappone has refused both to resign and to withdraw from his re-election campaign. In spite of his indictment, Chiappone is still heavily favored to win re-election in his 31st legislative district, where Democrats hold an 8-1 voter registration edge.
The criminal charges against Chiappone meant that both of the 31st legislative district's assemblymen were simultaneously under indictment; L. Harvey Smith
was arrested on corruption charges in July 2009.
Facing pressure to resign from federal, state and county Democrats, on July 20, 2010, he submitted a letter of resignation to Joseph Cryan, Assembly Democratic Leader. He was replaced on July 25, 2010, by Jason O' Donnell, a Democrat in that district.
and Jersey City State College
(majoring in Media Arts). Chiappone is a photographer by trade having owned and operated Kristen Studios Photography and Videography in Bayonne for twenty years. He lives in Bayonne with his wife, Diane.
and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly
. The other representatives from the 31st District for the 2010-2011 legislative session are:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, who served in the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
, where he represented the 31st legislative district. He had served in the Assembly for one term, from 2004–2005, and won a second term in November 2007.
He officially resigned on July 20, 2010, after pressure to resign.
Political career
Chiappone serves in the Assembly on the Health and Senior Services Committee, the Human Services Committee and the Regulated Professions Committee. His legislative office is located at 663 Broadway in Bayonne. He is currently challenging incumbent Mark Smith to become mayor of Bayonne, New Jersey.Chiappone also served as a Councilman-at-Large for the city of Bayonne
Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Located in the Gateway Region, Bayonne is a peninsula that is situated between Newark Bay to the west, the Kill van Kull to the south, and New York Bay to the east...
having won his third four year term in May 2006,until April 2009 when he resigned. Chiappone has served on the Bayonne City Council since 1998, as a Councilman-at-Large since 2002 and representing Bayonne's First Ward from 1998-2002. As a City Council Member, Chiappone sits on the Board of School Estimate Committee, the Bayonne Economic Development Committee, the Cable TV Committee, member of the CDBG Committee, is member of the Bayonne Economic Opportunity Foundation, and a Commissioner of the Base Local Redevelopment Agency which oversees development of Bayonne's Peninsula.
He simultaneously held a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly and on the City Council. This dual position, often called double dipping, was allowed under a grandfather clause in the state law enacted by the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
and signed into law by Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
Jon Corzine
Jon Corzine
Jon Stevens Corzine is the former CEO of Goldman Sachs and of MF Global, and a one time American politician, who served as the 54th Governor of New Jersey from 2006 to 2010. A Democrat, Corzine served five years of a six-year U.S. Senate term representing New Jersey before being elected Governor...
in September 2007 that prevents dual-office-holding but allows those who had held both positions as of February 1, 2008, to retain both posts.
Chiappone began his career in politics in 1994, when he produced a local Public-access television
Public-access television
Public-access television is a form of non-commercial mass media where ordinary people can create content television programming which is cablecast through cable TV specialty channels...
program called "Bayonne Sunnyside Up," which focused on the community events that take place in Bayonne. Chiappone then created the community action program, "Bayonne Public Forum." Through this Government-access television (GATV) venue, he televised meetings of the Bayonne Municipal Council, Hudson County
Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
Board of Chosen Freeholders
Board of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
, local school board meetings and Bayonne Zoning & Planning Board meetings. It was through this civic participation that Chiappone became involved in local government and politics. Chiappone at that time created the civic activist watchdog group called REACT (REsponsible ACTion in Government). As an Independent municipal candidate in 2002 having successfully defeated the Council candidates of his political adversary Bayonne Mayor and Assemblyman of the 31st District Joseph V. Doria, Chiappone was selected by then Jersey City Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham to run on his legislative team in the 31st District. Along with Lou Manzo, Chiappone and Glenn Cunningham successfully defeated Joe Doria's 31st District Democratic team of Joseph V. Doria, L. Harvey Smith
L. Harvey Smith
L. Harvey Smith is an American Democratic Party politician who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly from January 8, 2008 to January 10, 2010, where he represented the 31st legislative district. He is the former Acting Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey and previously served in the New...
and Elba Perez-Cinciarelli in the June 2003 Primary election. Following the death of Glenn Cunningham, Chiappone ran unsuccessfully for Senate against Joseph V. Doria in the Special election to fill the vacancy in November 2004. Chiappone was then defeated in the Democratic Primary in June 2005 by the team of Louis Manzo and Jersey City Superintendent Charles T. Epps Jr.
Charles T. Epps Jr.
Charles Thomas Epps, Jr. is an American Democratic Party politician, who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2006-2008, where he represented the 31st legislative district, having taken office on January 10, 2006...
. After once again defeating "Team Doria" for the non-partisan 2006 Bayonne municipal election for the position of Councilman At-Large, Chiappone aligned himself with the wife of deceased Glenn Cunningham, Sandra Bolden Cunningham
Sandra Bolden Cunningham
Sandra Bolden Cunningham is an American Democratic Party politician, who has been serving in the New Jersey State Senate since 2007, where she represents the 31st Legislative District. She was sworn into office on November 8, 2007...
, to once again seek state legislative office in the 31st District. Along with running-mate L. Harvey Smith
L. Harvey Smith
L. Harvey Smith is an American Democratic Party politician who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly from January 8, 2008 to January 10, 2010, where he represented the 31st legislative district. He is the former Acting Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey and previously served in the New...
, Chiappone defeated the team of Nicholas Chiaravrolloti and Sheila Moses-Newton for Assembly in the Democratic primary in 2007, thus essentially winning the election as they were running unopposed in the general election. Chiappone and Smith were sworn in as assemblymen in January 2008.
On August 26, 2009, Chiappone and his wife, Diane, were indicted on seven counts, including theft by deception, official misconduct, tampering with public records, falsifying records, conspiracy, and misrepresentation of contributions or expenditures. Chiappone allegedly issued over $8,000 in state-issued paychecks to campaign volunteers in 2005, then diverting the money into his personal accounts and his campaign fund (without declaring it on his campaign finance forms). Each New Jersey legislator is provided with $110,000 in taxpayer funds annually to pay legislative aides; Chiappone and his wife allegedly abused his power as a legislator and committed theft by deception by funneling some of those funds into their personal accounts. In spite of the charges against him and calls for his resignation from Governor Jon Corzine
Jon Corzine
Jon Stevens Corzine is the former CEO of Goldman Sachs and of MF Global, and a one time American politician, who served as the 54th Governor of New Jersey from 2006 to 2010. A Democrat, Corzine served five years of a six-year U.S. Senate term representing New Jersey before being elected Governor...
and Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Chiappone has refused both to resign and to withdraw from his re-election campaign. In spite of his indictment, Chiappone is still heavily favored to win re-election in his 31st legislative district, where Democrats hold an 8-1 voter registration edge.
The criminal charges against Chiappone meant that both of the 31st legislative district's assemblymen were simultaneously under indictment; L. Harvey Smith
L. Harvey Smith
L. Harvey Smith is an American Democratic Party politician who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly from January 8, 2008 to January 10, 2010, where he represented the 31st legislative district. He is the former Acting Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey and previously served in the New...
was arrested on corruption charges in July 2009.
Facing pressure to resign from federal, state and county Democrats, on July 20, 2010, he submitted a letter of resignation to Joseph Cryan, Assembly Democratic Leader. He was replaced on July 25, 2010, by Jason O' Donnell, a Democrat in that district.
Private life
Chiappone attended York CollegeYork College, City University of New York
York College of The City University of New York is one of eleven senior colleges in the City University of New York system. It is located in Jamaica, Queens in New York City...
and Jersey City State College
New Jersey City University
New Jersey City University is a public university in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA. It is a member of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities....
(majoring in Media Arts). Chiappone is a photographer by trade having owned and operated Kristen Studios Photography and Videography in Bayonne for twenty years. He lives in Bayonne with his wife, Diane.
District 31
Each of the forty districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey SenateNew Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
. The other representatives from the 31st District for the 2010-2011 legislative session are:
- Senator Sandra Bolden CunninghamSandra Bolden CunninghamSandra Bolden Cunningham is an American Democratic Party politician, who has been serving in the New Jersey State Senate since 2007, where she represents the 31st Legislative District. She was sworn into office on November 8, 2007...
, and - Assemblyman Charles MainorCharles MainorCharles Mainor is an American Democratic Party politician who serves in the New Jersey General Assembly representing the 31st legislative district. Mainor is a police detective in Jersey City. He succeeded L...
External links
- Assemblyman Chiappone's legislative web page, New Jersey LegislatureNew Jersey LegislatureThe New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
- New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms