Judge Overturns Election In South Jersey Race

A judge has overturned election results after finding the winning Assembly candidate didn’t live long enough in the southern New Jersey district.But Assemblywoman-elect Gabriela Mosquera may get to take office anyway because the judge will allow Democrats to fill the seat before a special election in November.

Mosquera defeated Republican Shelley Lovett in the 4th Legislative District and was set to be sworn in Tuesday.

Lovett sued because Mosquera had moved into the district in December, 2010.

The judge found Mosquera fell short of the one year residency requirement in the state constitution.

Lovett Attorney Matthew Wolfe tells the Statehouse Bureau of the Star-Ledger of Newark and The Record the ruling will change the way candidates are selected because the residency rule hasn’t been enforced.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)