TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis says he’ll campaign for state Senate in New Jersey while his lawyers fight to have his name put back on the ballot.
New Jersey’s top election official, Republican Kim Guadagno (GWAH-dah-noh), ruled Tuesday that Lewis is ineligible to run as a Democrat. She says he failed to meet the state’s four-year residency requirement for candidates.
The 49-year-old former track star owns homes in New Jersey and California. He says he’s confident his name will be on the June primary ballot.
Lewis’ lawyer filed suit in federal court alleging that the residency rule is unconstitutional and that the New Jersey native’s civil rights have been violated.
Lawyer Bill Tambussi says an appeal of Guadagno’s decision will be filed with the state Appellate Division on Wednesday.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.