HUDSON COUNTY — Democratic committee people from the 31st District voted Monday night to unanimously to name Jason O’Donnell to replace Anthony Chiappone as state assemblyman. Chiappone resigned on July 26 after pleading guilty to misreporting campaign money from his 2005 campaign.
Lisa Cerbone-Gallo from Bayonne nominated O’Donnell, seconded by Jersey City Freeholder Jeff Dublin, in a vote at Bayonne Public School No. 14 that lasted less than 10 minutes.
The 31st District includes all of Bayonne and a large portion of Jersey City. O’Donnell thanked Mayor Mark Smith for his support as well as other Democrats in Hudson County.
In a brief interview, O’Donnell said he would seek to get up to speed on the issues.
“I have a lot of reading to do, beside what I’ve already read in the newspapers,” he said.
O’Donnell was sworn in minutes after the vote, although he will travel to Trenton for a ceremonial swearing in on July 27.
O’Donnell is expected to run to keep the seat in a special election in November.