Former Lumberton Mayor Faces New Legal Challenges

A former mayor of Lumberton Township, New Jersey, Gina LaPlaca, faces new legal charges stemming from her recent attempt to run in a Democratic primary election. She and her husband, Jason Carty, are being accused of manipulating signatures on her nominating petition, as stated by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office.

Charges and Allegations

Gina LaPlaca has been charged with making a false statement under oath, knowingly filing a false petition, and tampering with public records. Jason Carty is also facing similar charges. The petition, submitted for the Democratic primary, included an affidavit signed by LaPlaca that claimed she personally collected the signatures and verified each as genuine. However, an investigation found several signatures to be falsified or unauthorized by those whose names appeared.

Background

LaPlaca served as the mayor of Lumberton Township from 2021 to 2025. Although she stepped down from the mayor’s role, she continues to be a member of the township committee. Her current term ends later this year. In the recent June 2026 Democratic primary for the committee, she ranked third, failing to secure one of the two available seats.

Without the allegedly fake signatures, her petition would not have met the minimum requirement to qualify her candidacy for the primary election. This revelation is part of an ongoing investigation by the county prosecutor’s office.

Previous Legal Issues

Earlier, LaPlaca pleaded guilty to charges connected to a DUI incident involving her child in the car. The event in March 2025 led to charges of DUI and child abuse after she was found with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.30%. This level far exceeds the legal limit of 0.08%. The incident was captured on video, showing her vehicle nearly hitting a utility pole.

She received a sentence of three years under supervision through a pretrial intervention program. This includes mandatory participation in Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

Upcoming Court Appearance

Both Gina LaPlaca and Jason Carty are scheduled to appear in court on September 21 in Mount Holly, New Jersey. The legal developments continue to impact LaPlaca’s political and personal life significantly.