Ex-NJ Mayor and Husband Face New Charges Over Fake Ballot Signatures

A former mayor of Lumberton Township, New Jersey, and her husband are now facing a slate of new charges related to alleged fraudulent signatures on a nominating petition. The accusations follow an earlier plea of guilty by the former mayor in a separate DUI case where her child was present in the vehicle.

New Allegations Surface in Petition Fraud Case

Gina LaPlaca, who previously served as the mayor of Lumberton Township and continues to hold a position on the township committee, has been charged with several offenses, including making a false statement under oath, knowingly filing a false petition, tampering with public records, and falsifying or tampering with records. These charges were announced by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday.

Her husband, Jason Carty, has also been indicted on charges of knowingly filing a false petition, tampering with public records, and falsifying or tampering with records. The petition in question was submitted by Carty to the Lumberton Township Municipal Clerk for the Democratic primary election. It included an affidavit signed by LaPlaca, asserting that she had personally circulated the petition and that all signers had done so by hand.

An investigation conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office reportedly found that both LaPlaca and Carty were involved in collecting signatures for the petition. Crucially, the investigation revealed that numerous individuals whose names and signatures appeared on the document stated they had never signed it nor authorized anyone to sign on their behalf in support of LaPlaca’s candidacy.

Prosecutors contend that without these allegedly fabricated signatures, LaPlaca’s petition would not have met the threshold of valid signatures required to qualify her for the June 2026 Democratic primary election for the Lumberton Township Committee.

Background of the Former Mayor’s Legal Troubles

The current charges add another layer to LaPlaca’s recent legal entanglements. Earlier this year, she pleaded guilty to driving under the influence (DUI) in an incident that occurred in March 2025. Her child was reportedly in the car at the time of the offense.

According to authorities, LaPlaca was intoxicated when she went to pick up her child from daycare. Witness accounts and video evidence indicated her vehicle was swerving erratically, narrowly missing a utility pole, while her child was a passenger. A subsequent police investigation determined her blood alcohol concentration to be 0.30%, which is more than three times the legal limit of 0.08% in New Jersey.

As a result of the DUI plea, LaPlaca was sentenced to three years of supervision under a pretrial intervention program. This program includes mandatory attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

Political Career and Upcoming Court Date

LaPlaca, aged 47, and Carty, aged 49, are scheduled to appear in court on September 21 in Mount Holly, New Jersey, to address the new charges.

LaPlaca’s tenure as mayor of Lumberton Township spanned from 2021 to 2025. Despite stepping down from the mayoral position, she has maintained her seat on the township committee, with her current term slated to conclude at the end of this year. She had sought re-election to the committee in the recent June Democratic primary but did not secure one of the two available seats, finishing third behind Mayor Terrance Benson and his running mate, Kendra Hatfield.

The allegations of petition fraud cast a shadow over her continued involvement in local politics, particularly given the circumstances of her prior DUI conviction. The outcome of these new charges will likely have significant implications for her political future and her standing within the community.

Understanding Nominating Petitions and Election Integrity

Nominating petitions are a critical component of the election process in many jurisdictions, allowing candidates to demonstrate support from registered voters before appearing on a ballot. These petitions typically require a specific number of valid signatures from constituents within the relevant electoral district.

The process is designed to ensure that candidates have a genuine base of support and to prevent frivolous candidacies. Strict rules govern the collection and submission of signatures, including requirements that candidates or their agents attest to the authenticity of the signatures collected. Violations, such as the filing of false information or tampering with records, are taken very seriously by election officials and law enforcement due to their potential to undermine public trust in the electoral system.

The charges against LaPlaca and Carty underscore the importance of maintaining the integrity of election processes. Prosecutors are tasked with investigating and prosecuting cases where these processes are believed to have been compromised, ensuring a fair playing field for all candidates and upholding the democratic principles of voter choice and petition authenticity.

The upcoming court appearance will be a key juncture in determining the legal ramifications for both LaPlaca and Carty, as the legal system addresses the alleged irregularities in the nominating petition process.