“Too Little, Too Late?�
It’s Called SENIORITY

Why Filling Out Menendez’s Unexpired Term Is More Important that Playing Politics(West New York) The Sires for Congress campaign today accused Assemblyman Joe Vas of putting politics ahead of policy by refusing to run in the special election to fill out the unexpired term in the 13th CD left vacant by former Rep. Robert Menendez when he was appointed to the Senate earlier this year. Today’s Star-Ledger quoted Vas consultant Barry Brendel as saying, “This special election is much too little, much too late.� [Star-Ledger, 4/12/06]. Vas’s campaign also told NJN News yesterday that he failed to file for the special election because “[Vas] did not want to confuse voters.� [NJN News, 4/11/06].

“At a time when our nation is at war, our families lack access to health care and many of our residents cannot get by because they don’t earn a living wage, Joe Vas has indicated that getting to work on behalf of the 13th Congressional District as quickly as the law allows is not in his interest,� said Sires campaign spokeswoman Julie Roginsky. “The congressman being seated this November will have seniority over the many new members being seated next January, which will lead to more influence in Washington that can be exerted on behalf of the people of the 13th Congressional District.�

The Sires campaign also pointed to Vas’ lack of respect for the voters of the 13th Congressional District because of his claims that seeing his name on the ballot twice would be too confusing.

“It is a shame that Mr. Vas, who is asking voters for their support, also hypocritically admits that he doesn’t think they are smart enough to differentiate a special election from a regular election and uses that as the excuse as to why they do not deserve to be represented in Washington this November,� Roginsky concluded. “This November, the war in Iraq will still be raging, families will still lack access to health care and residents will still try to do more with less. The people deserve to have their needs addressed on their timetable, not Mr. Vas’.�

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