There’s been another twist in the NJ-03 GOP primary, Save Jerseyans:
NJ.com reports that Atilis Gym owner Ian Smith was arrested Sunday morning and charged with allegedly driving while intoxicated in Burlington County. Save Jersey independently confirmed the arrest via a source close to the congressional hopeful’s campaign.
Neither of Smiths primary rivals immediately offered comment after the news broke last Monday afternoon. Meanwhile, the Smith campaign maintained its candidate’s innocence.
“I would trust Ian Smith to drive my mother to her next doctor’s appointment,” said Steve Kush, general consultant for the Smith campaign.
Politicians have been charged with driving while intoxicated and survived politically. Most famously, George W. Bush won the presidency after news broke of a past DUI arrest 24 years prior. News of Bush’s DUI dropped days before the fateful 2000 election, and some believed the revelation may’ve blunted Bush’s momentum in what ultimately ended up being a historically close election. Here at home, Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-4) defeated a DUI refusal charge 10 years ago when the county prosecutor decided to dismiss it. He’s been reelected multiple times since.
What makes Smith’s case more challenging is the fact that his campaign was already dealing with a fateful 2007 DUI accident which resulted in another driver losing his life.
For a second DUI, New Jersey offenders face a 1-to-2 year license suspension in addition to a prolonged interlock device period after the suspension period expires. A refusal conviction or guilty plea – Smith refused to submit to an alcotest – can significantly enhance the penalties since refusing to comply with the administration of an alcotest is illegal in the Garden State.
