Lumberton committeewoman, husband facing charges related to 2026 primary election

LUMBERTON, N.J. (WPVI) -- A Lumberton Township committeewoman and her husband are facing charges related to the June 2026 Democratic primary election, according to the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office.

Prosecutors allege that Committeewoman and former Mayor Gina LaPlaca was fraudulently placed on the ballot for the Lumberton Township Committee race.

LaPlaca, 47, is charged with making a false statement under oath, knowingly filing a false petition, two counts of tampering with public records or information and falsifying or tampering with records.

Her husband, Jason Carty, is charged with knowingly filing a false petition, two counts of tampering with public records or information and falsifying or tampering with records.

According to investigators, the case began after multiple people reported that their names and signatures appeared on LaPlaca's nominating petition without their authorization.

Authorities said the petition was submitted to the township clerk by Carty and included an affidavit signed by LaPlaca stating that she had personally circulated the petition and that each signer signed it in their own handwriting.

Investigators said both LaPlaca and Carty collected signatures for the petition.

According to prosecutors, without the allegedly fraudulent signatures, LaPlaca's petition would not have contained the minimum number of signatures required to qualify for the primary election ballot.

LaPlaca and Carty are scheduled to appear in court Sept. 21.

Earlier this year, LaPlaca pleaded guilty to DUI and child abuse.

Authorities say she was drunk when she picked up her child from daycare in March 2025.

She was sentenced to three years of supervision under a pretrial intervention program, which included mandatory attendance of A.A. meetings.