- Joseph Vas
Joseph Vas (born
January 18 ,1955 ) is an American Democratic Partypolitician , who has served in theNew Jersey General Assembly since 2004, where he represents the 19th legislative district.Vas serves in the Assembly on the Commerce and Economic Development Committee (as Chair), the Budget Committee, the Education Committee and the Joint Committee on the Public Schools. [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=236 Assemblyman Vas's legislative webpage] ,
New Jersey Legislature . AccessedFebruary 14 ,2008 .]Vas also served Perth Amboy as its
Mayor since 1990 when he became the firstHispanic elected to serve as the City's mayor. He was defeated for reelection in 2008 byWilda 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. During his tenure, greater than two billion dollars in private investment occurred.Fact|date=February 2007In 2006, Vas ran for the U.S. House of Representatives, seeking to fill the ushr|New Jersey|13| seat
Bob Menendez vacated to become a U.S. Senator, but was defeated byAlbio Sires in theJune 6 ,2006 , primary, 70% to 30%. Despite the uphill battle, Vas won 77% of the vote in Middlesex County, won the North Ward in Newark, captured several voting districts in the East Ward of Newark, in Jersey City and in Bayonne. Vas received statewide name recognition. Coming to New Jersey to campaign for Vas wasOhio Congressman and 2004 Democratic Presidential CandidateDennis Kucinich and his wife Elizabeth.Vas had decided not to run in the special primary election, also held in June, to fill the remaining two months in the 13th district on the seat vacated by
Bob Menendez .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. [Adarlo, Sharon. [http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/05/perth_amboy_mayor_vas_loses_to.html "Perth Amboy Mayor Joseph Vas loses race in stunning upset"] , "The Star-Ledger ",May 14 ,2008 . AccessedMay 30 ,2008 .]Vas attended
Vanderbilt University , studying Liberal Arts.District 19
Each of the forty districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the
New Jersey Senate and two members in theNew Jersey General Assembly . The other representatives from the 19th District for the 2008-2009 Legislative Session are:
*SenatorJoseph Vitale , and
*AssemblymanJohn S. Wisniewski References
External links
* [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=236 Assemblyman Vas's legislative webpage] ,
New Jersey Legislature
*"New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms"
** [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/VasJ2007.pdf 2007] [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/VasJ2006.pdf 2006] [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/VasJ2005.pdf 2005] [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/VasJ2004.pdf 2004]
* [http://www.vasforassembly.com Web site for Assembly Re-Election]
* [http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=43185 Assembly Member Joseph Vas] ,Project Vote Smart
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