Carl Lewis Ordered Back on New Jersey Senate Ballot
Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis was ordered back on the New Jersey state Senate ballot Tuesday after a federal appeals court overturned last week’s ruling. A 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel voted 2-1, restoring Lewis to the Nov. 8 general election.
The panel overturned a ruling by a U.S. District Court judge who upheld Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno's decision to void Lewis' candidacy. The judge in that case said Lewis did not meet a four-year residency requirement for state senators.
For months, Lewis' New Jersey residency has been at issue, but the appeals court indicated this was not the heart of the case saying, "the state has failed to demonstrate a compelling state interest" for removing Lewis from the ballot, the Associated Press (AP) reports.
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Lewis' lawyer, William Tambussi, argued that the residency requirement is designed to ensure a candidate is familiar with local issues and the voters know the candidate. Neither is a problem for Lewis, Tambussi claimed, noting that the Olympic athlete grew up in southern New Jersey and purchased homes in 2005 and 2007 in the state.
"Today's decision puts this matter with the voters of the 8th Legislative District, where it rightfully belongs," Tambussi said, according to the AP. "We are pleased that the voters now have a meaningful choice."
Mark Sheridan, a lawyer representing Burlington County Republicans, sought to keep Lewis off the ballot and intends to appeal the 2-1 ruling to either the 3rd Circuit or the U.S. Supreme Court.
"I think the court absolutely got it wrong," Sheridan told the AP. "They applied the wrong standard."
Lewis, who is running as a Democrat, is challenging Republican state Sen. Dawn Addiego in the 8th Legislative District.
