PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A federal appeals court says in a 2-1 decision that nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis should be back on the ballot for a seat in the New Jersey state senate.
The ruling Tuesday could be the final word on a candidacy marked by legal questions about whether Lewis meets the state’s requirement that state senators live in New Jersey for four years before they’re elected.
Lewis says the effort to keep him from running was political.
He is seeking office as a Democrat in a Republican southern New Jersey district.
Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno acting in her capacity as secretary of state deemed him ineligible.
Lewis grew up in Willingboro and settled in California and bought homes in New Jersey in 2005 and 2007. But he voted in California in 2009.
