I can see the T-shirts now: Let Carl Run! First a judge ruled that he could run, but now New Jersey’s Secretary of State is blocking former Olympic star Carl Lewis for running for one of the state’s senate seats. Secretary of State Kim Guadagno ordered Lewis’ name off the June Democratic primary ballot because, she said, he did not meet the state’s four-year residency requirement to run for office.
Lewis, of course, will appeal the ruling, and possibly challenge the constitutionality of the residency requirement in court.
Guadagno, who is also New Jersey’s lieutenant governor under Gov. Chris Christie, noted that Lewis said he paid income taxes in California, was registered to vote there until recently and has business offices there. He owns a home in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Lewis said the ruling would be challenged. The former track star had told The Philadelphia Inquirer that Christie tried to talk him out of running.
“What’s really clear to me, is that first the governor called and tried to talk me out of my race, now he’s trying to use his power to do it,” Lewis said. “I didn’t realize I was going to be running against the gov in my 8th District race.”
Lewis said it seemed as if the governor pressured his lieutenant governor to rule against him.
“I’ve been in competition for a long time so nothing surprises me,” he said. “What’s sad, though, is who’s talking about the people of the 8th District? The kids whose schools are struggling? The seniors who are having trouble paying their taxes?”
Well, he certainly sounds like a politician. Look New Jersey, you’re losing the Nets to a Russian, you’ve already lost The Sopranos, and now you’re going to let this happen? If you’re not down at the statehouse in force to protest by late this afternoon, you’re not the state I thought you were.
And if this fails, I have a Plan B. One resident of New Jersey’s 8th Legislative District (Nutley), whom I happen to know has lived there way longer than four years, is none other than Martha Stewart. New T-Shirt: Draft Martha!
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Carl Lewis Can’t Run For Senate, New Jersey Says [Huffington Post]
