Election Suit Claims Former Governors' Kids Voted Illegally In Mendham

MENDHAM, NJ — In the most recent update on the election controversy, both Democrats and Republicans claim that illegal mail-in ballots were cast in the contested November election by non-residents.

The conflict, which is set to go to trial next week, has expanded to include allegations of improper voting by two of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's children, according to a recent petition filed in Morristown.

Following the Mendham Township Committee election results on Nov. 8, former deputy mayor Tom Baio filed a lawsuit to contest his three-vote loss to Democrat Lauren Spirig, which resulted in the loss of a Republican seat on the Township Committee.

The lawsuit was filed following the completion of a recount and certification of the outcome by the Morris County Clerk's Office in early December, which revealed that not only did Spirig retain her victory, but Baio had received an extra vote by mistake.

In his suit, Baio initially claimed that 33 voters should be rejected because they did not meet the residency requirements for voting in Mendham Township. On Tuesday, Baio's attorney filed a memorandum that lowered the number of allegedly illegal votes down to 19.

In a recent petition filed by Spirig's attorney, that claim was expanded to include the children of the township's most politically prominent resident, Christie.

The petition, filed by Brett Pugach, contends that if Baio's election challenge is successful, the courts must also accept the list of ten other mail-in voters whose residency the Spirig wishes to challenge, including the former governor's son and daughter, Andrew and Sarah.

Spirig's filing also requests that two of the Democratic votes named by Baio in his suit be re-counted as they met the qualifications required by Article II, paragraph 3 of the New Jersey Constitution.

The petition then states that unless almost every vote challenged by Baio is rejected, those ballots, along with the ten other challenges, will be enough to once again confirm Spirig's victory.

"If this case is truly about voter integrity, then all voters should be held to the same set of residency standards. Deliberately targeting Democrats and risking the confidentiality of their votes is self-serving and does nothing to address any systemic issues or flaws that may exist within the voting system; it merely illustrates Mr. Baio's blatant attempt to disenfranchise people for his own personal gain," Spirig told Patch.

Read Related:

• Trial Date Set In Ongoing Mendham Township Election Scandal
• Vote Recount Reaffirms Mendham Township Committee Results
• 'Shame On You:' Residents Call For Concession In Mendham Election
• Mendham Republicans Challenge Absentee Ballots In Committee Race
• Spirig Sworn In Amid Lawsuit Challenge From Mendham Republican

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Residents who have previously spoken out against the lawsuit claim that the township has suffered as a result of the political controversy that has portrayed Mendham negatively.

"There are so many wonderful things about Mendham. I would love to see a different story out there in the world about this town, which is such a special place," resident Meredith Sahi said.

"I'm deeply disappointed that, a week after the Board of Elections-certified winners were sworn in, Mr. Baio continues with a lawsuit instead of allowing the newly formed Committee to focus on the business of governing the Township in the interest of all residents, no matter their political party," Spirig said.