Olympian who sought N.J. State Senate seat gets a new job

South Jersey Democrats appeared to have scored a herculean recruit in 2011 when they convinced nine-time Olympic track gold medalist Carl Lewis to take on State Sen. Dawn Marie Addiego, then a Republican who had been appointed to fill a vacancy the previous year, in the race for State Senate in the 8th legislatve district.

Lewis grew up in Burlington County and was track star at Willingboro High School.  He won gold medals at the Olympic Games in 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996, and a silver medal in 1988.

Republicans argued that Lewis didn’t meet New Jersey’s residency requirements, which require legislative candidates to have lived in the state for four years.  Lewis had lived most of his adult life in California and had voted there until the previous year, even though he still owned a home in Willingboro.

A judge permitted Lewis to run in the primary election – he was unopposed – but his campaign ended in September when the 3rd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that he wasn’t eligible to run.

At that point, Democrats didn’t bother to replace Lewis on the ticket and Addiego won a full term without opposition.

That ended Lewis’ fledgling political career.

But the 61-year-old Lewis  found that you can return home again.

Last week, his alma mater, the University of Houston, named him as their head track and field coach.  After Trenton didn’t work out for him, he moved to Houston and joined the college athletic staff in 2013.  He replaces Leroy Burrell, who has become head coach at Auburn.