Maintaining his innocence in the face of state corruption charges, Assemblyman Tony Chiappone (D-Bayonne) moments ago filed his petitions to run for mayor of Bayonne.
“I’m in this to win – I’ve never gone into an election not to win,” Chiappone told PolitickerNJ.com. “I have a record of service: 11 years on the city council; and in the assembly.”
Chiappone said he’s fighting in court to clear himself of charges that he funneled state dollars recorded as payment to staffers into his campaign account.
Running with council candidates Denis F. Wilbeck and Ramon Veloz, the assemblyman is attempting to unseat incumbent Mayor Mark Smith.
