Wilda Diaz
Encyclopedia
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. Prior to her election as mayor, she was an assistant vice president for Banco Popular in their Elizabeth
branch office.
, Puerto Rico
. A lifelong resident of Perth Amboy, Diaz graduated from Perth Amboy High School
in 1983. After graduation, she began a twenty year career in banking, starting as a teller in a local bank and working her way up to becoming an assistant vice president at Banco Popular. She resigned from the bank after she was elected mayor in 2008. She and her husband, Greg Diaz, have two children, Greg, Jr. and Samantha.
who was actively seeking the Republican Party
nomination for governor for the November 2009 general election against incumbent governor John Corzine. Diaz cooperated in an investigation being conducted by federal and state law enforcement agencies relating to activities connected to former Mayor Vas's administration. Despite her affiliation with the Democratic Party, Diaz hired several Republicans to serve in her administration. In May 2010, she supported three Republican candidates for city council, including former city committee chairman Kenneth Gonzalez, and appointed another former party leader, Maria Garcia, to the municipal planning board.
) Chris Christie. Diaz sought and won council approval of a 10% tax hike almost immediately after she took office. She agreed to support South Amboy mayor John "Jack" O'Leary to replace Vas in the Assembly, but he withdrew from the race after allegations of corruption were publicized and the state Attorney General initiated an investigation of his business affairs. Diaz then supported Perth Amboy resident Mathias "Eddie" Rodriguez, who retired as a state superior court judge, for the Assembly seat, but he was defeated by Craig Coughlin
, who had the support of Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac
.
Critics argued that the mayor broke campaign promises by repeatedly raising taxes, starting with a $300 tax hike for the average homeowner. Property taxes in 2006 were around $4,889 for most homeowners and presently the average amount is $7,570. In July 2009, Diaz eliminated the city's emergency medical services
and transferred responsibility for ambulances to Raritan Bay Medical Center.
Diaz was one of several mayors who testified before a legislative committee on June 20, 2011, in support of A-4133, legislation designed to reduce municipal expenses by increasing public employee contributions to the cost of health and pension benefits and temporarily eliminating health benefits as a subject of collective bargaining. The legislation was strongly opposed by public employee unions across the state.
In 2011, the Diaz administration and Chevron Corporation
settled a $12 million lawsuit the company had filed against the city seeking repayment of taxes paid from 2007 to 2010. The suit was based on an increase in the company's property assessment that occurred during the Vas administration. The settlement, negotiated prior to the beginning of a trial, provided for a refund of $7.9 million and a reduction of the property assessment for future years.
Diaz urged voters to defeat the school budget in 2009, and voters heeded the advice and rejected the budget by nearly two-to-one. In collaboration with the Perth Amboy Business Improvement District (BID), Diaz launched a June 2011 effort to stop littering.
Governor Christie appointed Diaz to the state's Housing Opportunity Task Force on February 17, 2010. As a member of the task force, Diaz endorsed Republican efforts to abolish the state's affordable housing program, which was criticized by advocates for the poor. Diaz was one of only two Democrats who joined a roster of 56 Republican mayors from Middlesex
, Monmouth
, Burlington
, Ocean
, Hunterdon
and Mercer
Counties in support of Governor Christie's constitutional amendment proposal of capping real estate taxes at 2.5% (known locally as the "Cap 2.5 Amendment"). She also has received criticism for breaking her campaign promise to end the practice of granting residency waivers, which have allowed at least four high-paid municipal employees to work without having to establish residency in the city.
A 2010 attempt by a former city employee to recall the mayor on charges of gross mismanagement, failure to stabilize taxes and lack of redevelopment in the city failed to move forward after the deadline to collect 5,546 signatures required for a recall election was not met.
In August 2011, representatives from the Kushner Companies made a presentation to the Perth Amboy Redevelopment Agency proposing a scaled-back design concept for the Landings at Harborside, a residential development set to be built along the city's waterfront, and allowing rental housing instead of owner-occupied units as originally planned. Diaz endorsed the plan the following month, saying "This is an opportunity to have a redesign Perth Amboy is proud of, that reflects the city's historical significance."
In October 2010, the Perth Amboy City Council voted to hold city elections in November instead of May, beginning in 2012. A bill enacted by the state legislature in January allowed cities with non-partisan municipal elections to make such changes in an effort to save money and increase voter turnout by having local elections coincide with the general November election; savings for Perth Amboy are estimated at $50,000. As a result of the change, terms of the mayor and city council members which would have expired June 30, 2012, will be extended to December 31, 2012. Diaz had supported the move.
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....
in May 2008. She defeated incumbent Joseph Vas
Joseph Vas
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...
, by a 58% to 42% margin. She is Perth Amboy's first female mayor and the first female mayor of Puerto Rican
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
and Latina
Latina
Latina is the feminine form of the term Latino.Latina may also refer to:*Province of Latina, a province in Latium , Italy**Latina, Lazio, the capital of the province of Latina**Latina Nuclear Power Plant*Latina , a district of Madrid...
ancestry elected mayor of a city in New Jersey. Prior to her election as mayor, she was an assistant vice president for Banco Popular in their Elizabeth
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
branch office.
Personal life
Wilda Diaz is one of six daughters of Mercedes and Antonio Soto, laborers who moved to New Jersey from their native San SebastianSan Sebastián, Puerto Rico
San Sebastián is a municipality of Puerto Rico located northwest of the island south of Isabela and Quebradillas; north of Las Marías; east of Moca and Añasco; and west of Lares. San Sebastián is spread over twenty-four wards and San Sebastián Pueblo...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. A lifelong resident of Perth Amboy, Diaz graduated from Perth Amboy High School
Perth Amboy High School
Perth Amboy High School is a four-year public high school in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, United States. PAHS, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Perth Amboy Public Schools...
in 1983. After graduation, she began a twenty year career in banking, starting as a teller in a local bank and working her way up to becoming an assistant vice president at Banco Popular. She resigned from the bank after she was elected mayor in 2008. She and her husband, Greg Diaz, have two children, Greg, Jr. and Samantha.
Politics
On March 14, 2009, the local Republican Club honored Diaz at an event attended by Chris Christie, a former United States Attorney for the District of New JerseyUnited States Attorney for the District of New Jersey
The U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey is the chief federal law enforcement officer in New Jersey. Paul J. Fishman was sworn into office as U.S. Attorney on October 14, 2009 after having been nominated by President Barack Obama. He succeeded Ralph J. Marra, who served as Acting U.S....
who was actively seeking the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nomination for governor for the November 2009 general election against incumbent governor John Corzine. Diaz cooperated in an investigation being conducted by federal and state law enforcement agencies relating to activities connected to former Mayor Vas's administration. Despite her affiliation with the Democratic Party, Diaz hired several Republicans to serve in her administration. In May 2010, she supported three Republican candidates for city council, including former city committee chairman Kenneth Gonzalez, and appointed another former party leader, Maria Garcia, to the municipal planning board.
Record in office
After being elected on a platform to serve as a reformer, Mayor Diaz was sworn into office in a ceremony attended by U.S. Attorney (now Governor of New JerseyGovernor 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...
) Chris Christie. Diaz sought and won council approval of a 10% tax hike almost immediately after she took office. She agreed to support South Amboy mayor John "Jack" O'Leary to replace Vas in the Assembly, but he withdrew from the race after allegations of corruption were publicized and the state Attorney General initiated an investigation of his business affairs. Diaz then supported Perth Amboy resident Mathias "Eddie" Rodriguez, who retired as a state superior court judge, for the Assembly seat, but he was defeated by Craig Coughlin
Craig Coughlin
Craig J. Coughlin is an American Democratic Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2010, where he represents the 19th Legislative District....
, who had the support of Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac
John McCormac
John McCormac is an American Democratic Party politician, who is serving as the Mayor of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey. He served as State Treasurer of New Jersey for four years in the cabinets of former Governor of New Jersey James McGreevey and former Gov...
.
Critics argued that the mayor broke campaign promises by repeatedly raising taxes, starting with a $300 tax hike for the average homeowner. Property taxes in 2006 were around $4,889 for most homeowners and presently the average amount is $7,570. In July 2009, Diaz eliminated the city's emergency medical services
Emergency medical services
Emergency medical services are a type of emergency service dedicated to providing out-of-hospital acute medical care and/or transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient, or the medical practitioner, believes constitutes a medical emergency...
and transferred responsibility for ambulances to Raritan Bay Medical Center.
Diaz was one of several mayors who testified before a legislative committee on June 20, 2011, in support of A-4133, legislation designed to reduce municipal expenses by increasing public employee contributions to the cost of health and pension benefits and temporarily eliminating health benefits as a subject of collective bargaining. The legislation was strongly opposed by public employee unions across the state.
In 2011, the Diaz administration and Chevron Corporation
Chevron Corporation
Chevron Corporation is an American multinational energy corporation headquartered in San Ramon, California, United States and active in more than 180 countries. It is engaged in every aspect of the oil, gas, and geothermal energy industries, including exploration and production; refining,...
settled a $12 million lawsuit the company had filed against the city seeking repayment of taxes paid from 2007 to 2010. The suit was based on an increase in the company's property assessment that occurred during the Vas administration. The settlement, negotiated prior to the beginning of a trial, provided for a refund of $7.9 million and a reduction of the property assessment for future years.
Diaz urged voters to defeat the school budget in 2009, and voters heeded the advice and rejected the budget by nearly two-to-one. In collaboration with the Perth Amboy Business Improvement District (BID), Diaz launched a June 2011 effort to stop littering.
Governor Christie appointed Diaz to the state's Housing Opportunity Task Force on February 17, 2010. As a member of the task force, Diaz endorsed Republican efforts to abolish the state's affordable housing program, which was criticized by advocates for the poor. Diaz was one of only two Democrats who joined a roster of 56 Republican mayors from Middlesex
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...
, Monmouth
Monmouth County, New Jersey
Monmouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 630,380, up from 615,301 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Freehold Borough. The most populous municipality is Middletown Township with...
, Burlington
Burlington County, New Jersey
There were 154,371 households out of which 34.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had...
, Ocean
Ocean County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 510,916 people, 200,402 households, and 137,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 803 people per square mile . There were 248,711 housing units at an average density of 151/km²...
, Hunterdon
Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Hunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 128,349. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Flemington....
and Mercer
Mercer County, New Jersey
As of the census of 2000, there were 350,761 people, 125,807 households, and 86,303 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,552 people per square mile . There were 133,280 housing units at an average density of 590 per square mile...
Counties in support of Governor Christie's constitutional amendment proposal of capping real estate taxes at 2.5% (known locally as the "Cap 2.5 Amendment"). She also has received criticism for breaking her campaign promise to end the practice of granting residency waivers, which have allowed at least four high-paid municipal employees to work without having to establish residency in the city.
A 2010 attempt by a former city employee to recall the mayor on charges of gross mismanagement, failure to stabilize taxes and lack of redevelopment in the city failed to move forward after the deadline to collect 5,546 signatures required for a recall election was not met.
In August 2011, representatives from the Kushner Companies made a presentation to the Perth Amboy Redevelopment Agency proposing a scaled-back design concept for the Landings at Harborside, a residential development set to be built along the city's waterfront, and allowing rental housing instead of owner-occupied units as originally planned. Diaz endorsed the plan the following month, saying "This is an opportunity to have a redesign Perth Amboy is proud of, that reflects the city's historical significance."
In October 2010, the Perth Amboy City Council voted to hold city elections in November instead of May, beginning in 2012. A bill enacted by the state legislature in January allowed cities with non-partisan municipal elections to make such changes in an effort to save money and increase voter turnout by having local elections coincide with the general November election; savings for Perth Amboy are estimated at $50,000. As a result of the change, terms of the mayor and city council members which would have expired June 30, 2012, will be extended to December 31, 2012. Diaz had supported the move.