TRENTON — A judge today rejected a Republican attempt to stop nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis’ state Senate candidacy in its tracks. Republicans charge Lewis’ candidacy violates the state’s four-year residency requirement, since Lewis had recently lived in California and voted there as late as 2009. Administrative Law Judge John Schuster III said Republicans did not meet the...
Nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis plans to run for New Jersey State Senate. TRENTON — A judge today rejected a Republican attempt to stop nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis’ state Senate candidacy in its tracks.
Republicans charge Lewis’ candidacy violates the state’s four-year residency requirement, since Lewis had recently lived in California and voted there as late as 2009. Administrative Law Judge John Schuster III said Republicans did not meet the burden of proof to kick him off the ballot, but did not say he qualified as a resident.
"That is not a finding that respondent has attained such status, however, because the severely limited time constraints in hearing and deciding this matter have not permitted a fully developed record," wrote Schuster.
Schuster’s action is not binding, and Republicans said they’ll file an objection with Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, who as secretary of state oversees the Division of Elections.
"Mr. Lewis was obligated to demonstrate that he was a resident of New Jersey. The burden was not on us to demonstrate that he was a resident of California although we think we did that," wrote GOP attorney Mark Sheridan in an e-mail.
Democrats said Lewis did meet the state’s residency requirement but disputed its constitutionality, noting a federal judge had ruled the state Constitution’s requirement for candidates to live in their legislative district for at least one year violated the U.S. Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause.
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