Thu Apr 28, 2011 at 05:11:58 PM EDT
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Carl Lewis has lost his bid to have a judge reinstate his name on New Jersey primary election ballots this afternoon, as the judge upholds the state's 4-year residency rule. Via politickernj, U.S. District Court Judge Noel Hillman in his ruling:
Whatever a candidate's personal qualities may be, they have to have four years of boots on the ground.
[ snip ]
These powers and this state constitution has been part of the standing law of this state for 167 years. While difficult, the voters of the State of New Jersey have long had the power to change this provision and at least twice passed... The power to change it and the failure to change it... stands for the proposition that the majority of people want a four-year (residency requirement). The decision, this afternoon in U.S. District Court in Camden, comes in just under the wire in the schedule for ballots to be sent by mail today. Yesterday, the judge granted a preliminary injunction to stop election officials from issuing those primary ballots before he rendered his decision. |
| Rosi Efthim :: LD-8: Judge rules against Carl Lewis, who plans an appeal |
| GOP Senator Dawn Addiego has never gotten the kind of media attention that the 9-time Olympic gold medalist has gotten since rumors started he might jump in the race as a Democrat. And it's been a roller-coaster that probably hasn't come to a full stop yet. Lewis is appealing and a separate challenge was filed in state court. The ups and downs included the revelation that Chris Christie tried to talk him out of running almost right up to his announcement, then snatched away their plan to make Lewis physical fitness ambassador for New Jersey as punishment. An administrative law judge dismissed the GOP's case just days ago, saying they had not met the burden of proof. That kicked the decision to Kim Guadagno, who by Gov. Christie's appointment operates not only as his LG but as Secretary of State, which makes the GOP ticket's #2 behind the most political governor in NJ history the top election official in the state. Complicated, in a post-Katherine Harris world.
Republican comment since Lewis got in has been fairly insulting, the latest coming this morning as Dawn Addiego broke her silence to say she agrees with Guadagno's decision and suggested Lewis probably isn't qualified for the NJ Senate anyway, not knowing as much as she appears to suggest she knows about the people there.
Lewis argues that New Jersey's residency rules are obsolete, that the requirements are a holdover from a time before the internet made it possible for people to share information and research candidates quickly. But the Republicans who challenged his eligibility to run say those requirements are in place so voters can have ample time to familiarize themselves with candidates. |
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