Republicans say he voted in California as recently as May 2009, does not meet the state constitution's four-year residency requirement
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Nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis declares his candidacy for New Jersey State Senate in this April 11 photo.TRENTON — Republicans today challenged the state Senate candidacy of Olympic track and field star Carl Lewis, saying he voted in California as recently as May 2009 and does not meet the state constitution’s four-year residency requirement.
"By voting in 2008 and 2009, Mr. Lewis confirmed that by law, he was a ‘resident’ of the State of California," the complaint alleges. "Accordingly, Mr. Lewis cannot also have been a ‘resident’ of New Jersey at that time."
The complaint was filed on behalf of Bill Layton, the Burlington County Republican Party chairman, and Ted Costa, the Hainesport Township Republican Committee chairman.
William Tambussi, who is representing Lewis, said the track star had remained a resident of the state under the definition in the constitution.
"We’re confident that Mr. Lewis will be on the ballot," Tambussi said. "I’m a little surprised by the 11th-hour tactic, especially since most folks know that the four-year residency requirement is probably unconstitutional."
Lewis announced on Monday that he was running against state Sen. Dawn Addiego.
Lewis, who grew up in Willingboro and later moved to California, said he bought his first house in New Jersey in 2005. He currently lives in Medford, but only registered to vote in New Jersey on Monday.
The Republican Party is also challenging the candidacy of:
District 12 - Democrat General Assembly Primary - Haresh Hemrajani
District 16 - Democrat General Assembly Primary - Maureen Vella
District 26 - Republican Assembly Primary - Gary Steele
District 26 - Republican Assembly Primary - Joseph Scafa
District 36 - Republican Senate Primary - Simon Grubin
District 39 - Democrat Senate Primary - Lorraine Waldes
District 39 - Democrat Assembly Primary - Anthony Iannanelli and Michael McCarthy
District 39 - Republican Senate Primary - Michael Cino
District 39 - Republican Assembly Primary - Michael Wilson and Sara Adele Higgins
By Matt Friedman and Ginger Gibson/The Star-Ledger
