Atlantic City’s Contested Election: Mayor Faces Trial Amid Reelection Bid

As Atlantic City prepares for its mayoral election, incumbent Marty Small Sr. is vulnerable. He is likely to win in the Democratic-leaning city, but his political future may disintegrate when he goes in court to face serious allegations of abusing his teenage daughter. The date of his trial could change city leadership.

Small, who became mayor in 2019 when his predecessor resigned, faces Republican candidate Naeem Khan in November. Small faces Atlantic County prosecutors’ charges days after likely re-election. State law bars him from running if he is convicted of a third-degree criminal before his new term. In this case, the city council would designate an acting mayor and hold a special election to finish the term.

The charges against Small and his wife, La’Quetta, the city’s school superintendent, are alarming. They face various charges of abuse between December 2023 and January 2024, including Small brooming their daughter until she lost consciousness. Witness tampering and terroristic threats are also charged. The prosecution is expected to rely on recordings on the daughter’s boyfriend’s cellphone that allegedly document mistreatment. A court declared the recordings admissible under New Jersey’s one-party consent regulations.

Small has avoided conviction in previous cases. He was acquitted of voter fraud and ballot tampering allegations from a 2009 race several years ago. This current case is especially dangerous because a conviction may bar him from public service.

Small continues to campaign, claiming the charges are politically motivated. He claims innocence and that the public focuses on his work, not his legal issues. His campaign rhetoric implies voters are dismissing the claims as opportunistic. He promises re-election and a victorious legal defense to vindicate him.

As election day approaches, observers wonder about the vote’s outcome and how the courts may change Atlantic City’s administration. The trial poses an uncommon twist in municipal politics: the election winner may not be able to serve. Small is seeking a new term.

Sources
AP News; Politico; NBC Philadelphia; Wikipedia