Could a mayor’s anticipated victory turn into a stunning fall from grace before he even takes the oath of office?
Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr., a Democrat, is poised to secure reelection on November 4, 2025, yet faces a harrowing court battle on December 1, 2025, over allegations of abusing his teenage daughter alongside his wife, La’Quetta Small, with a conviction potentially barring him from assuming office in January 2026, as New York Post reports.
Back in December 2023, court documents allege a chilling incident where Small reportedly struck his 16-year-old daughter unconscious using a broom, belt, and his fists during a video call with a boyfriend the parents opposed.
Just weeks later, on January 7, 2024, another disturbing event unfolded as La’Quetta Small, Newark’s superintendent of schools, was recorded choking and hitting her daughter in the face, according to legal filings.
“Don’t make me hurt you!” Small allegedly shouted during one of these recorded clashes, per court documents.
While such words might reflect a moment of heated emotion, they paint a troubling picture of family dynamics when tied to charges of physical harm, raising serious questions about fitness for public leadership in a city already grappling with challenges.
Authorities escalated their response by raiding the Smalls’ home on April 2, 2024, confiscating cell phones and laptops as evidence in the ongoing investigation.
Both Marty Small Sr. and his wife face charges of endangering a child’s welfare and simple assault, with the mayor also confronting counts of terroristic threats and aggravated assault.
If convicted, Small could be sentenced to up to 10 years behind bars and be prohibited from taking office, forcing the City Council to name an acting mayor until a special election, as reported by NJ.com.
Amid these legal woes, Small faces opposition from Republican Naeem Khan, a local businessman critical of the city’s direction, who stated on his campaign website that Atlantic City is suffering from “how badly [it] is being managed.”
Khan’s critique might resonate with voters tired of scandal, though it’s worth noting that governance failures often stem from systemic issues, not just one leader—still, the timing of his challenge couldn’t be more pointed.
Despite the gravity of the accusations, both Small and La’Quetta have entered not guilty pleas, and Small even turned down a plea deal in August 2025 that would have kept him out of prison but barred him from seeking reelection, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Adding context to his current predicament, Small has faced legal scrutiny before, having been acquitted of voter fraud in his failed 2009 mayoral bid and cleared of ballot fraud claims in 2006, per NJ.com.
Efforts to obtain a statement from the mayor’s office were unsuccessful, leaving the public to ponder whether silence signals defiance or simply a focus on legal defense amid a storm of allegations.
As Atlantic City braces for an election overshadowed by courtroom drama, one wonders if leadership can truly serve the public good when personal conduct is under such a dark cloud—perhaps it’s time for fresh faces untainted by controversy to steer the ship, without losing sight of due process and the presumption of innocence.
