Jersey Journal file photoNew Bayonne Mayor Mark Smith

Mark Smith is taking a hefty pay cut -- more than 50 percent -- to be mayor of Bayonne.

Smith, who had been the city's police director, has been earning more than $156,000 a year under the title of deputy police chief. The City Council granted him a paid leave of absence from that job while he served as civilian police director for no additional pay.

Conner Jay/The Jersey JournalBayonne's new mayor, Mark Smith, sat down with Jersey Journal reporter Ron Leir yesterday, the new leader's first full day in office.

Bayonne Mayor Mark Smith started settling in to his new City Hall office yesterday, his first full day as the city's top elected official.

In an interview with Jersey Journal reporter Ron Leir, Smith talked about consolidating the police and fire director jobs into one position, his transition team and the city's finances.

Following a Mass at St. Henry's Church, Mark Smith was sworn in tonight as mayor of Bayonne. See Tuesday's Jersey Journal for full coverage.

Jersey Journal file photoThe Hudson County Board of Canvassers certified the results of Tuesday's special election for Bayonne mayor today -- and Mark Smith won.

Mark Smith was officially named the winner of Tuesday's special election for Bayonne mayor this afternoon when the Hudson County Board of Canvassers certified the election results.

This evening's Mass and swearing-in ceremony for Bayonne Mayor-elect Mark Smith are still on.

The Hudson County Board of Elections plans to have the results of Tuesday's election certified this afternoon, clearing the way for the inauguration, The Jersey Journal is reporting on Hudson County Now.

Jersey Journal file photoBayonne Mayor-elect Mark Smith is to be sworn in at 7 Monday night, following a Mass at St. Henry's Church.

The swearing-in ceremony for Bayonne Mayor-elect Mark Smith has been set for 5 p.m. Monday at City Hall, following a 5 p.m. Mass at St. Henry's Church.

Smith won Tuesday's special election, besting four other candidates for the city's top office.

Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey JournalInterim Bayonne Mayor Terrence Malloy takes a call at his City Hall office as he looks back on his year in office.

Although he didn't seek election, interim Bayonne Mayor Terrence Malloy is proud of his accomplishments over the last year, having been tapped to lead the city until the voters picked a new leader in Tuesday's special election.

Malloy, who took a leave from his spot as the city's finance director, looks back on his year in the city's top spot in an "exit interview'' with reporter Ronald Leir, published in today's Jersey Journal.

With a victory of more than 2,500 votes last night, it's clear Mark Smith is Bayonne's next mayor. The next question is just when he'll be sworn in and take office.

City spokesman Joseph Ryan said this morning the city is waiting for the election results to be certified by the county elections board. Since this was a special election to fill the expired term of Joseph V. Doria, Smith won't have to wait until January to take over. Until thenm, however, interim Mayor Terrence Malloy will continue to run the city.

Stay with Bayonne Now for updates on the election.

Police Director Mark Smith handily won yesterday's special election for mayor of Bayonne, beating out four other candidates.

Get the full story in today's Jersey Journal, plus a look at how the day went and sharp criticism from the losing camp of former Municipal Patrick Conaghan directed at former Mayor Richard Rutkowski.

Don McCoy/The Jersey JournalPatrick Conaghan greets a supporter tonight after giving his concession speech.

Two years ago, the mayoral runoff election in Bayonne was a bitter disappointment for former Municipal Court Judge Patrick Conaghan, who lost to incumbent Joseph V. Doria Jr. by about 1,000 votes.

It was heartbreak again tonight as Conaghan came in second behind Police Director Mark Smith.

"Now is the time for Bayonne to move forward together, to be unified and make Bayonne the gem of Hudson County again," Mayor-elect Mark Smith told supporters at the Chandelier Restaurant in his victory speech tonight.

The two Bayonne councilmen who supported Patrick Conaghan's bid for mayor -- Anthony Chiappone and Gary La Pelusa -- have arrived at the Catholic War Veterans hall and are blaming mayoral hopeful Richard Rutkowski for their candidate's apparent loss.

"It's obvious that Rutkowski hurt us," said Chiappone, suggesting that the former mayor took votes away from Conaghan. Chiappone added that the number of votes Rutkowski is believed to have pulled in is roughly equal to the margin of Conaghan's apparent loss.

Jonathan Shapiro/The Jersey JournalPolice Director Mark Smith, who has apparently won the Bayonne mayoral race, talks with supporters this afternoon.

Mark Smith's campaign is announcing to supporters at his headquarters on Broadway that Smith has won the Bayonne mayoral election.

Michael T. Dempsey/The Jersey JournalThe Bayonne race for mayor grew testy this morning when a supporter of Pat Conaghan pulled up behind a Mark Smith truck and let his feelings be known.The Smith truck, by the way, was parked in front of Conaghan headquarters.

It hasn't been the most cordial of campaign seasons here in Bayonne, but still this scene in front of Conaghan headquarters on Broadway made us do a double-take.