NJ Official Says Lewis Can't Run For State Senate
TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) -- New Jersey Secretary of State Kim Guadagno has removed former olymmpic track star Carl Lewis off the June primary ballot for a state senate seat in Burlington County.
Guadagno determined Lewis failed to meet a four year residency requirement, having bought his own home eight days too late.
But he also had homes in California, paid taxes there, and voted there as recently as May of 2009.
"This is the latest example of the Christie Administration believing they are above the law and willing to play politics out of the state house," said Assemblyman John Wisniewski, chairman of the state Democratic Committee.
A spokesman for Burlington County republicans who brought the challenge labeled Lewis as a "carpetbagger" who thought his celebrity "can trump everything including the law."
Lewis can, and likely will, appeal the decision to Superior Court.
He was unopposed in the pirmary to face freshman republican incumbent Dawn Addiego.
Reported by David Madden, KYW Newsradio
