By RICHARD G. JONES
THE NEW YORK TIMES

After a head-spinning six months in New Jersey politics — which saw some of the most enduring leaders in the state moved aside by criminal convictions and retirement — the latest newcomer got her turn at center stage last week.

On Tuesday, Wilda Diaz — a former bank executive, community organizer and mother of two — was sworn in as mayor of Perth Amboy after her defeat of the 18-year incumbent, Joseph Vas, in the May 13 nonpartisan municipal election. Mr. Vas, who is also a state assemblyman, was seeking a fifth consecutive term.

Of four incumbents in high-profile municipal races, only Richard J. Martel, mayor of Mahwah, was able to stave off a challenge. Mayors in the three other cities — Vineland, Cape May City and Perth Amboy — were all sent to defeat, with Mr. Vas’s ratio in defeat (by 61 percent to 39 percent) the largest and most surprising.

READ MORE: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/nyregion/
nyregionspecial2/06wildanj.html?ref=nyregionspecial2

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