Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small won reelection Tuesday despite allegations of child abuse against him that are slated to go to trial next month.
Small, a Democrat, defeated Republican challenger Naeem Ahmad Khan, making Small the first Atlantic City mayor to secure a second full term since Jim Whelan, who won three terms more than two decades ago. Small defeated Khan 62% to 38%.
Though Atlantic City is heavily Democratic — it has elected only one Republican mayor in the last 35 years — Small faced headwinds in his bid for a second full term.
Last year, Atlantic County prosecutors charged Small and his wife, Atlantic City Schools Superintendent La’Quetta Small, alleging the two physically and emotionally abused their then-16-year-old daughter.
Prosecutors alleged Marty Small repeatedly punched his daughter in the legs and beat her with a broom so severely that she fell unconscious. They accused La’Quetta Small of repeatedly beating her daughter, dragging her by her hair, and striking her with a belt.
Both Smalls have pleaded not guilty. Jury selection for the mayor’s trial is due to begin on Dec. 1.
Small became mayor when his predecessor, Frank Gilliam, resigned the position after pleading guilty to wire fraud. Prosecutors had accused Gilliam of stealing $86,790 from a youth basketball league he ran.
I am by NO means a fan or supporter of Small and his wife. I am saddened by the state of Atlantic City. But the FACT remains that we have a system of law that is based on the assumption of innocence until PROVEN guilty in a court of law. This article, like so many others before it uses the words allegation/alleged 3 times , and accused once.
The reason Whelan won was that people were disheartened by the indictment of Mayor Usry coming after the indictment of Matthews, the change in Government, and turmoil from the start of gambling after a long decline of the City.
There is a presumption of innocence. But for the Superintendent, School and hospital employees to cover it up when there is probable cause, means they’re not entitled to stay in positions of public trust while the charges are pending.
Those positions are not entitled to a presumption to stay in their jobs.
History has shown Usry’s indictment was a set-up. But history also showed that Usry, Whelan, Langford, Levy, Guardian, Gilliam and Small made BIG mistakes.
At best, Langford and Guardian were out of their league, giving them the benefit of doubt. Leaving the 2 temporary ones out too.
Atlantic City has been a dumpster fire for 50 years. One common denominator is that they mostly had backgrounds in the Education system and little in the business world and it showed.
Marty Small is a spoiled, stupid, untrustworthy fake promoter, fake pro basketball player who didn’t score one point in his pro career.
Marty Small can’t handle his family or the City. It shows why he lost to Gilliam and how people knew both of them. The biggest mistake was barring Casino employees from government. The State of N.J. Is no better.
The jury has not come back on Small’s indictment. History has shown the failure of local government and State government in Atlantic City.
The voters reap what they sowed, the few good people in City Hall need to go along with the bad, everyone there, CRDA another waste, State overseers, Stockton, all of you.
But it won’t happen, so stay away, leave while you can.
Sorry if you were or think you were one of the good ones and there are a few but not enough to save the City.
This is what happens after close to 100 years of welfare and no decent jobs producing anything and Government the biggest employer like socialism.