Former New Jersey Mayor Faces New Charges for Alleged Election Petition Fraud

A former mayor of Lumberton Township, New Jersey, Gina LaPlaca, is facing new legal issues. Prosecutors have charged her with making a false statement under oath, knowingly filing a false petition, tampering with public records, and falsifying or tampering with records. Her husband, Jason Carty, also faces charges of knowingly filing a false petition and related offenses.

The charges stem from claims that false signatures appeared on LaPlaca’s nominating petition for a Democratic primary race. The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office announced the charges, stating that the petition included an affidavit signed by LaPlaca, attesting to personally circulating the petition and confirming the authenticity of the signatures.

An investigation revealed discrepancies. Multiple individuals whose names and purported signatures were on the petition indicated they neither signed it nor authorized anyone to sign on their behalf. Without these signatures, LaPlaca’s petition would not have met the required number of valid signatures necessary to qualify her candidacy for the June 2026 Democratic primary for the Lumberton Township Committee.

LaPlaca has previously faced legal challenges. Earlier this year, she pleaded guilty to DUI and child abuse charges. In March 2025, she was found intoxicated while picking up her child, with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.30%, significantly above the legal limit. Video evidence showed her driving erratically, nearly hitting a utility pole.

For these offenses, LaPlaca was sentenced to three years of supervision as part of a pretrial intervention program, requiring her to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

The former mayor’s court appearance is scheduled for September 21 in Mount Holly, New Jersey. Meanwhile, LaPlaca’s political future remains uncertain. She served as mayor from 2021 to 2025 but retained her committee seat, which is due to expire at the end of this year. Despite seeking re-election, she finished third in the June primary, trailing current Mayor Terrance Benson and his running mate, Kendra Hatfield.