Carl Lewis running for the New Jersey Senate? Not of Republicans can help it. Burlington County (NJ) GOp officials are challenging Lewis’ residence status, claiming that the former track great doesn’t meet the state’s residency requirement. The state constitution requires those running for office to have lived in New Jersey for four years. Republicans claim Lewis’ voting record proves he was a resident of California for the past four years.
The GOP argument relies on an interpretation of the Constitution that Senate candidates must be residents of New Jersey the “preceding” four years to be eligible to hold office.
Lewis’ attorney William Tambussi said he would challenge that interpretation.
“Under the GOP’s read, if someone left (New Jersey) to go to college for four years, they couldn’t run for state office,” he said. “That’s not what the Constitution intended.”
He said he would file a response to the GOP challenge Monday.
“Carl Lewis grew up here. It’s not like he moved here from Hawaii to run for office. It’s pretty straightforward,” Tambussi said.
The nine-time Olympic gold medalist announced last week that he would run for the 8th congressional senate seat as a democrat.
