NJ Gym Owner That Defied COVID-19 Rules Switches To Libertarian Party

SOUTH JERSEY — Ian Smith, the Bellmawr gym owner that defied Governor Murphy's orders that non-essential businesses stay closed to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, announced on his Twitter account that he is now a member of the Libertarian party.

"The change we are looking for starts with the individual and pours out into our families and our communities. There is work to be done," Smith said on his Twitter account Sunday.

Two days earlier, he had tweeted that his situation went "from we just want to be able to get married … ⠀To… You must subject your children to highly sexual curriculum, homosexuality, transgenderism, queer theory, vulgar PRIDE parades, and drag queen story hour…"

Smith lost earlier this month in New Jersey's Republican Primary to businessman Bob Healey in the race for New Jersey's third Congressional seat against incumbent Andy Kim.

An independent or third-party candidate — including those who are not Republicans or Democrats — can be on the November general election ballot, Patch has previously reported.

Smith was charged on March 27 with drunk driving, driving under the influence, refusing to take a breath test, reckless driving, careless driving, failure to observe marked traffic lanes and delaying traffic. Smith has contested those charges, and the resolution of those charges is still pending.

In 2020, Smith and gym co-owner Frank Trumbetti gained national fame when they chose not to follow a mandate from Gov. Murphy that ordered all gyms and many other small businesses closed in the first six months of the pandemic.

In 2008, when Smith was 20 years old, he was convicted and sentenced to more than five years in prison for causing a drunk driving crash that killed a Galloway teenager.

This post contains reporting by Carly Baldwin and Anthony Bellano.

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