Joseph Vas (born January 18, 1955) is an American Democratic Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2004 to 2010, where he represented the 19th Legislative District.
In 2006, Vas ran for the U.S. House of Representatives, seeking to fill the New Jersey's 13th congressional district seat Bob Menendez vacated to become a U.S.
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.
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.
[6] 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.
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.
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.
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.
[10] 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.