A New Jersey councilwoman and former mayor who was sentenced earlier this year for driving while drunk with her child in the vehicle is now accused of faking signatures in order to be placed on the Democratic ballot during her township’s primary election. On Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, Lumberton To wnship Committeewoman Gina LaPlaca, 47, and her husband Jason Carty, 49, were both charged with fraudulently placing LaPlaca on the Democratic primary ballot in the June 2026 Lumberton Township Committee primary race. A nominating petition – which Carty submitted to the Lumberton Township Municipal Clerk — contained an affidavit signed by LaPlaca in which she swore she “personally circulated the petition [and] that such petition was signed by each of the signers thereof in his/her own handwriting,” investigators said. Multiple people whose names and signatures appeared on the petition indicated they didn’t sign it or authorize anyone to do so on their behalf, however, according to the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office. Investigators said that without the fraudulent signatures, LaPlaca’s petition would not have had the number of required signatures for her to be a candidate for the primary. LaPlaca is charged by summons with making a false statement under oath, knowingly filing a false petition, tampering with public records or information and falsifying or tampering with records. Carty is charged with knowingly filing a false petition, tampering with public records or information, and falsifying or tampering with records. LaPlaca and Carty are both scheduled to appear in Superior Court on Sept. 21, 2026. LaPlaca previously faced legal issues in March 2025 while she was mayor of Lumberton Township. Officials said she was driving while intoxicated while her young son was in the vehicle. They also said police found an open container of alcohol while searching her vehicle. An investigation found that LaPlaca had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .30%, officials said. In New Jersey, drivers with a BAC above .08% are guilty of drunk driving. LaPlaca pleaded guilty in March 2026 to fourth-degree child abuse and driving under the influence.  She was sentenced to three years of supervision under a diversionary program for first-time offenders known as Pretrial Intervention. ...read more read less