NJ Judge Blee Orders Surprise Special Election Date in Atlantic City

New Jersey Superior Court Judge Michael Blee ruled today, Monday, September 16, 2024, that there will be a special election on November 5, 2024 to fill the vacancy for an Atlantic City, New Jersey 5th Ward Council Member.

This is a shocker insofar as New Jersey state law calls for a special election to be held within 45-50 days of a vacancy.

That should have called for an October, stand alone election.

However, Blee has decided to place the Atlantic City Council race on the General Election ballot.

This is exactly what the Atlantic County - Atlantic City Democrat Party wanted.

The vacancy is the direct result of Judge Blee previously vacating the seat previously held by Muhammad 'Anjum' Zia.

Judge Blee removed Zia from office on August 29, 2024 upon determining that Zia did not reside in Atlantic City.

Blee is also the assignment judge for Atlantic and Cape May County jurisdictions.

Blee has handled most of the politically-charged, sensitive cases himself, as he did in this case

The Blee finding was the result of a Maria Lacca challenge of Zia’s residency.  Lacca ran in Atlantic City’s 5th Ward Council race, where she lost a very close election … that went all the way down to the last ballots count … provisional ballots and those cast before Election Day and not received until after Election Day.

In a measured 63 page decision, Blee ruled entirely in favor of Lacca's challenge.

Numerous Atlantic City sources and elected officials have alleged for years that Zia actually lives in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey.

At the time that Zia was re-elected to the Atlantic

City Council, he certified that he was a resident of Atlantic City.

This creates an immediate vacancy that will be filled as follows:

The Atlantic City Democratic Committee will nominate 3 candidates to fill the vacancy.

The Atlantic City Council may select one of the three. In the event of a 4-4 tie, Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small will break tie.

Zia's problems are not over, as he still faces criminal charges that arose during this trial before Judge Blee.

NJ Judge Blee Orders Surprise Special Election Date in Atlantic City

The Atlantic County Sheriff's Department arrested and charged Zia right at the Atlantic County Courtroom.

This is a developing story. We will update it with more information later.