Joseph Vas
Encyclopedia
Joseph Vas is an American
Democratic Party
politician
, who has served in the New Jersey
General Assembly
from 2004–2010, where he represented the 19th Legislative District
. He did not seek re-election to the assembly in 2009. He also served as Mayor of Perth Amboy, New Jersey
from 1990 to 2008. He was defeated for re-election to a 5th full term by local bank vice president Wilda Diaz
in 2008 by a 58% to 42% margin. He was elected Perth Amboy Democratic Chairman in 2008, succeeding his longtime campaign chairman Ray Geneske. Vas resigned as the party chairman in 2009. He was convicted of state corruption charges in 2010 and federal corruption charges in 2011.
For nearly two decades, Joe Vas was a major political powerhouse and boss in Perth Amboy & Middlesex County politics. His 2008 upset defeat followed by corruption charges sent a shockwave in New Jersey politics as one time political boss
and powerbroker had fallen.
Vas attended Vanderbilt University
.
candidates who ran against incumbent George Otlowski
in the 1988 mayoral race, with Vas coming in second, losing by 325 votes. Vas served as Mayor of Perth Amboy, New Jersey
, beginning in 1990, when he became the first Hispanic elected to serve as the city's mayor. He was re-elected several times, but was defeated for reelection in 2008 by Wilda Diaz
. He has also served on the Perth Amboy Planning Board since 1990, on the Perth Amboy Zone Development Corporation since 1994 and the Perth Amboy Redevelopment Agency since 1997.
As Mayor, Vas cleaned up over 1,000 acres (4 km²) of brownfields, cleaned up a carcinogenic spot from the city’s water supply and was involved in the installation of recycled plastics for the city’s waterfront bulkhead. Vas is credited for turning around the City of Perth Amboy during his 18 year tenure as Mayor.
lost the official endorsement of the Middlesex County Democratic Organization, which went instead to Vas, leading Friscia to switch over to the Republican Party. Vas was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly
in 2003; he was re-elected in 2005 and 2007 where he served as chairman of a powerful assembly committee and served as a member of the Assembly Budget Committee. He did not seek re-election in 2009.
In 2006, Vas ran for the U.S. House of Representatives
, seeking to fill the seat Bob Menendez vacated to become a U.S. Senator
, but was defeated by Albio Sires
in the June 6, 2006, primary, 70% to 30%. Despite the uphill battle, Vas won 77% of the vote in Middlesex County
and captured several voting districts in Jersey City, Newark and Bayonne. However, Vas was crushed nearly 8 to 1 in North Hudson, Sires' homebase. Sires allies Silverio Vega
, Brian Stack
and Nick Sacco delivered massive turnouts in their respective towns of West New York, Union City
and North Bergen. Sires has the party lines and support in Hudson, Essex and Union Counties. Sires defeated Vas in Essex County, 63% to 37%, in Union County 66% to 34%, in Bayonne 57% to 43% and in Jersey City 64% to 36%. Vas demolished Sires in Middlesex County, 77% to 23%. However, Sires crushed Vas in North Hudson, winning most towns by 80% of the vote, making the Middlesex results for Vas inconsquential. Sires has the support in the primary of Bayonne Mayor Joe Doria, Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, Newark political boss Steve Adubato, Carteret Mayor Dan Reiman, Senator Ray Lesniak, Assemblyman and Democratic State Chairman Joe Cryan, Governor Jon Corzine, Senator Bob Menendez, Senator Frank Lautenberg, Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts and former Governor Jim Florio. Vas had the support of Middlesex County Sheriff Joe Spicuzo, Assemblyman Tony Chiappone, Senator Sandra Cunningham, Jersey City COuncilman Steven Fulop and Woodbridge Mayor Frank Pelzman.
In May 2008, Vas received just 39% of the vote in the mayoral election, despite outspending his opponent, Wilda Diaz
, by nearly 5 to 1.
On March 11, 2009, New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram
announced that a grand jury had indicted Vas on eleven counts, including conspiracy, official misconduct, bid-rigging and tampering with records. Following the indictment, Governor of New Jersey
Jon Corzine
issued a joint statement with Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts and state Democratic Party Chairman Joseph Cryan
demanding that Vas step down from office. The statement cited "serious public corruption charges" related to Vas's use of Perth Amboy funds to pay for thousands of dollars in personal expenses while serving as mayor.
On May 20, 2009, Vas and his longtime top mayoral aide, Melvin Ramos, were indicted by a federal grand jury for six counts of mail fraud, one count of misapplication of funds, two counts of making false statements to the Federal Election Commission
, one count of making false statements to federal agents, and one count of making contributions to a federal candidate in the name of others. The indictment charges that Vas bought a 12-unit apartment building on DeKalb Avenue in December 2005 for $660,000, well below its assessed value of $955,000. Five months later Vas allegedly "flipped" the property for $950,000, inducing a contractor to buy it by promising public money – including Regional Contribution Agreement (RCA) funds to help pay for the building’s renovation. He then allegedly instructed city employees to submit a resolution to the council that would provide $360,000 in RCA funds for the property. It was approved in June 2006. Even before COAH approved the payment, Vas allegedly jumped through bureaucratic hoops to make sure the contractor got a $90,000 advance on the funds. On January 11, 2007, according to the indictment, Vas coerced the city’s Assistant Personnel Officer to approve that advance, naming him Acting Business Administrator so he would have the authority to do so.
On May 21, 2009, Vas, Ramos, and others were again indicted by a state grand jury, this time on nineteen counts including official misconduct and conspiracy.
On April 12, 2011, Vas was sentenced in federal court to a 6 1/2 year prison term on his corruption conviction.
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 has 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...
from 2004–2010, where he represented the 19th Legislative District
19th Legislative District (New Jersey)
New Jersey's 19th Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Middlesex County municipalities of Carteret Borough, Perth Amboy City, Sayreville Borough, South Amboy City and Woodbridge Township...
. He did not seek re-election to the assembly in 2009. He also served as Mayor of Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Mayor of Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Mayor of Perth Amboy, New Jersey:*Wilda Diaz 2008 to present*Joseph Vas 2007 to 2008.*George John Otlowski 1976 to 1990.*James J. Flynn, Jr. 1950-1970.*Edward James Patten 1934 to 1940.*William C. Wilson 1921-1926.*U. B. Watson 1881....
from 1990 to 2008. He was defeated for re-election to a 5th full term by local bank vice president Wilda Diaz
Wilda Diaz
Wilda Diaz was elected Mayor of Perth Amboy, New Jersey in May 2008. She defeated incumbent Joseph Vas, by a 58% to 42% margin. She is Perth Amboy's first female mayor and the first female mayor of Puerto Rican and Latina ancestry elected mayor of a city in New Jersey...
in 2008 by a 58% to 42% margin. He was elected Perth Amboy Democratic Chairman in 2008, succeeding his longtime campaign chairman Ray Geneske. Vas resigned as the party chairman in 2009. He was convicted of state corruption charges in 2010 and federal corruption charges in 2011.
For nearly two decades, Joe Vas was a major political powerhouse and boss in Perth Amboy & Middlesex County politics. His 2008 upset defeat followed by corruption charges sent a shockwave in New Jersey politics as one time political boss
Political boss
A boss, in politics, is a person who wields the power over a particular political region or constituency. Bosses may dictate voting patterns, control appointments, and wield considerable influence in other political processes. They do not necessarily hold public office themselves...
and powerbroker had fallen.
Vas attended Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
.
Local politics
Vas was one of two HispanicHispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
candidates who ran against incumbent George Otlowski
George Otlowski
George John Otlowski was an American publisher turned Democratic Party politician who served on the Middlesex County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders for eight years, in the New Jersey General Assembly for 18 years, and as Mayor of Perth Amboy, New Jersey for...
in the 1988 mayoral race, with Vas coming in second, losing by 325 votes. Vas served as Mayor of Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Mayor of Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Mayor of Perth Amboy, New Jersey:*Wilda Diaz 2008 to present*Joseph Vas 2007 to 2008.*George John Otlowski 1976 to 1990.*James J. Flynn, Jr. 1950-1970.*Edward James Patten 1934 to 1940.*William C. Wilson 1921-1926.*U. B. Watson 1881....
, beginning in 1990, when he became the first Hispanic elected to serve as the city's mayor. He was re-elected several times, but was defeated for reelection in 2008 by Wilda Diaz
Wilda Diaz
Wilda Diaz was elected Mayor of Perth Amboy, New Jersey in May 2008. She defeated incumbent Joseph Vas, by a 58% to 42% margin. She is Perth Amboy's first female mayor and the first female mayor of Puerto Rican and Latina ancestry elected mayor of a city in New Jersey...
. He has also served on the Perth Amboy Planning Board since 1990, on the Perth Amboy Zone Development Corporation since 1994 and the Perth Amboy Redevelopment Agency since 1997.
As Mayor, Vas cleaned up over 1,000 acres (4 km²) of brownfields, cleaned up a carcinogenic spot from the city’s water supply and was involved in the installation of recycled plastics for the city’s waterfront bulkhead. Vas is credited for turning around the City of Perth Amboy during his 18 year tenure as Mayor.
Higher office
In the 2003 Democratic primary, incumbent Arline FrisciaArline Friscia
Arline M. Friscia is an American politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1996 to 2002, where she represented the 19th Legislative District...
lost the official endorsement of the Middlesex County Democratic Organization, which went instead to Vas, leading Friscia to switch over to the Republican Party. Vas was elected to 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...
in 2003; he was re-elected in 2005 and 2007 where he served as chairman of a powerful assembly committee and served as a member of the Assembly Budget Committee. He did not seek re-election in 2009.
In 2006, Vas ran for the U.S. House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, seeking to fill the seat Bob Menendez vacated to become a U.S. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, but was defeated by Albio Sires
Albio Sires
Albio Sires is the U.S. Representative for , serving since a special election in 2006. The district includes most of Jersey City, as well as most of the Latino neighborhoods of Newark. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
in the June 6, 2006, primary, 70% to 30%. Despite the uphill battle, Vas won 77% of the vote in Middlesex County
Middlesex County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 750,162 people, 265,815 households, and 190,855 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,422 people per square mile . There were 273,637 housing units at an average density of 884 per square mile...
and captured several voting districts in Jersey City, Newark and Bayonne. However, Vas was crushed nearly 8 to 1 in North Hudson, Sires' homebase. Sires allies Silverio Vega
Silverio Vega
Silverio "Sal" A. Vega is a Cuban American Democratic Party politician, who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2006–2008, where he represented the 33rd legislative district and served on the Law and Public Safety Committee. He also served as the Mayor of West New York. Vega lost a...
, Brian Stack
Brian Stack
Brian Stack is an American actor, writer and comedian best known for his sketch comedy work on all three Conan O'Brien late-night talk shows, previously working on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, and currently on O'Brien's newest show, Conan on TBS.-Early...
and Nick Sacco delivered massive turnouts in their respective towns of West New York, Union City
Union City
-In the United States:*Union City, Connecticut *Union City, California *Union City, Georgia *Union City, Indiana , across the state line from Union City, Ohio...
and North Bergen. Sires has the party lines and support in Hudson, Essex and Union Counties. Sires defeated Vas in Essex County, 63% to 37%, in Union County 66% to 34%, in Bayonne 57% to 43% and in Jersey City 64% to 36%. Vas demolished Sires in Middlesex County, 77% to 23%. However, Sires crushed Vas in North Hudson, winning most towns by 80% of the vote, making the Middlesex results for Vas inconsquential. Sires has the support in the primary of Bayonne Mayor Joe Doria, Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, Newark political boss Steve Adubato, Carteret Mayor Dan Reiman, Senator Ray Lesniak, Assemblyman and Democratic State Chairman Joe Cryan, Governor Jon Corzine, Senator Bob Menendez, Senator Frank Lautenberg, Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts and former Governor Jim Florio. Vas had the support of Middlesex County Sheriff Joe Spicuzo, Assemblyman Tony Chiappone, Senator Sandra Cunningham, Jersey City COuncilman Steven Fulop and Woodbridge Mayor Frank Pelzman.
In May 2008, Vas received just 39% of the vote in the mayoral election, despite outspending his opponent, Wilda Diaz
Wilda Diaz
Wilda Diaz was elected Mayor of Perth Amboy, New Jersey in May 2008. She defeated incumbent Joseph Vas, by a 58% to 42% margin. She is Perth Amboy's first female mayor and the first female mayor of Puerto Rican and Latina ancestry elected mayor of a city in New Jersey...
, by nearly 5 to 1.
Indictments
By at least late October 2008, Vas and his entire mayoral administration were under investigation by state and federal law enforcement.On March 11, 2009, New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram
Anne Milgram
Anne Milgram was the Attorney General of New Jersey from June 2007 to January 2010.Milgram had served as First Assistant Attorney General, the second-highest position in the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, having taken office on February 14, 2006...
announced that a grand jury had indicted Vas on eleven counts, including conspiracy, official misconduct, bid-rigging and tampering with records. Following the indictment, 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...
issued a joint statement with Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts and state Democratic Party Chairman Joseph Cryan
Joseph Cryan
Joseph Cryan is an American Democratic Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2002, where he represents the 20th Legislative District...
demanding that Vas step down from office. The statement cited "serious public corruption charges" related to Vas's use of Perth Amboy funds to pay for thousands of dollars in personal expenses while serving as mayor.
On May 20, 2009, Vas and his longtime top mayoral aide, Melvin Ramos, were indicted by a federal grand jury for six counts of mail fraud, one count of misapplication of funds, two counts of making false statements to the Federal Election Commission
Federal Election Commission
The Federal Election Commission is an independent regulatory agency that was founded in 1975 by the United States Congress to regulate the campaign finance legislation in the United States. It was created in a provision of the 1975 amendment to the Federal Election Campaign Act...
, one count of making false statements to federal agents, and one count of making contributions to a federal candidate in the name of others. The indictment charges that Vas bought a 12-unit apartment building on DeKalb Avenue in December 2005 for $660,000, well below its assessed value of $955,000. Five months later Vas allegedly "flipped" the property for $950,000, inducing a contractor to buy it by promising public money – including Regional Contribution Agreement (RCA) funds to help pay for the building’s renovation. He then allegedly instructed city employees to submit a resolution to the council that would provide $360,000 in RCA funds for the property. It was approved in June 2006. Even before COAH approved the payment, Vas allegedly jumped through bureaucratic hoops to make sure the contractor got a $90,000 advance on the funds. On January 11, 2007, according to the indictment, Vas coerced the city’s Assistant Personnel Officer to approve that advance, naming him Acting Business Administrator so he would have the authority to do so.
On May 21, 2009, Vas, Ramos, and others were again indicted by a state grand jury, this time on nineteen counts including official misconduct and conspiracy.
On April 12, 2011, Vas was sentenced in federal court to a 6 1/2 year prison term on his corruption conviction.
External links
- Assemblyman Vas's legislative webpage, 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
- Assembly Member Joseph Vas, Project Vote SmartProject Vote SmartProject Vote Smart is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States...