Olympian Carl Lewis to run for N.J. Senate

TRENTON, N.J. - Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis says he’ll run again - for New Jersey Senate.

“When I run - as you see from my record - I run to win,’’ the 49-year-old Lewis said outside a historic courthouse in his home county, where he announced his candidacy Monday with his mother and other family members standing nearby.

Lewis said he hopes to inspire people, encourage communities to get together and improve educational opportunities, particularly physical education, for children. He said he’ll announce a specific issue-based platform in the coming days.

This is his first bid for elected office. In fact, he said he had registered to vote earlier in the day but said he had been registered previously in California and Texas, two states he has recently lived in.

Lewis will run as a Democrat in the 8th legislative district now represented by Republican Dawn Addiego.

Lewis said he understands he’s entering the rough-and-tumble world of New Jersey politics, but said he felt “it’s time to get in the dance.’’

He joked that he is “slower than I used to be,’’ but said he was ready to visit all 20 towns in his district.

AP