A former New Jersey mayor, Gina LaPlaca, is confronting new legal challenges alongside her husband, Jason Carty. Prosecutors have alleged false signatures were used on her nominating petition for a Democratic primary race. Previously, LaPlaca pleaded guilty in a DUI case involving her child.
Charges Filed Against LaPlaca and Her Husband
The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office announced that LaPlaca, who once led Lumberton Township and remains on the township committee, is charged with making a false statement under oath and other related offenses. Her husband, Carty, faces similar charges. A nominating petition they submitted falsely attested to genuine signatures that prosecutors allege were not authentic.
The petition, containing an affidavit signed by LaPlaca, claimed she personally gathered the signatures, which prosecutors dispute. The investigation revealed that several individuals listed on the petition denied signing it or authorizing their names to be included. Without these signatures, LaPlaca’s application would have lacked the required support to qualify for the Democratic primary in June 2026.
Previous DUI Charge
This new case emerges following LaPlaca’s earlier guilty plea related to a DUI incident. LaPlaca was charged after driving with her child while intoxicated in March 2025. Her blood alcohol concentration was reported at 0.30%, considerably over the legal limit. As part of a pretrial intervention program, she received a sentence of three years of supervision, which included mandatory attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
Court Appearance and Political Background
LaPlaca and Carty are expected to appear in court on September 21 in Mount Holly, New Jersey. LaPlaca’s tenure as mayor lasted from 2021 to 2025. Despite leaving the mayoral role, she continues to serve on the township committee until the end of this year. In the recent June Democratic primary, she sought re-election but did not secure a seat, finishing third behind the current mayor, Terrance Benson, and Kendra Hatfield.