Lorenzo Langford

The Attorney General’s Office today secured a guilty plea from one of the 14 people charged with ballot fraud who worked for Atlantic City Councilman Marty Small’s failed mayoral campaign.

Ronald Harris, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree conspiracy to commit absentee ballot fraud.  He admitted that he conspired with other Small campaign workers to “submit false documents related to the procurement, casting, or tabulation of
messenger absentee ballots in the Democratic primary in Atlantic City.”

Harris, who lives in Atlantic City, was originally charged with 10 different counts.  Small and 12 other defendants still each face 10 counts. 

MAYOR LANGFORD HOSTS GRAND OPENING OF
DEMOCRATS’ NEW VICTORY ’09 OFFICE IN ATLANTIC CITY

 
(ATLANTIC CITY) – Mayor Lorenzo T. Langford today joined Atlantic County Democratic leaders, candidates, volunteers and Atlantic City residents at the grand opening of the new Atlantic City Headquarters of the Democratic State Committee’s Victory ’09 Campaign.

Worth watching on Tuesday: Democratic mayoral primaris in Edison, Englewood, Morristown,  Atlantic City, Plainfield, Camden and East Orange, and Republican intra-party fights in Bergen, Gloucester and Passaic counties.

Atlantic County Clerk Edward McGettigan has rejected 361 of 787 applications for messenger ballots filed for the Atlantic City Democratic mayoral primary.  Most of the messenger ballots are believed to have been collected by remnants of former City Council President Craig Callaway's political machine; Callaway is in federal prison following his conviction on corruption charges.  Councilman Martin Small is challenging longtime Callaway rival, Mayor Lorenzo Langford, in the primary.

AC Mayor Lorenzo Langford

ATLANTIC CITY – When City Councilman Martin Small failed to secure the backing of the local Democratic organization, he lost some political mojo, at least in the eyes of the statewide party establishment. 

But state Sen. (and former Mayor) Jim Whelan (D-Atlantic City) stayed loyal to his protégé and endorsed him over his old antagonist, Mayor Lorenzo Langford.

This week, both Langford and Small submitted financial disclosure reports to the state Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) that show their campaign coffers nearly depleted.

Having won a special election last year to take the reins of government from former Mayor Bob Levy and still the favorite, according to most observers of the city’s political scene, Langford reported raising $58,732 for this campaign.

In the Democratic primary for Mayor of Atlantic City, where incumbent Lorenzo Langford faces a challenge from 2nd Ward Councilman Martin Small, about 800 messenger ballots -- a constant source of controversy in Atlantic City -- were dropped off at the County Clerk's office yesterday by the remnants of the anti-Langford Callaway organization.  The machine was once run by former City Council President Craig Callaway, who was among the public officials jailed by Christopher Christie during his seven years as U.S. Attorney.

Councilman Marty Small, left, with Damon Tyner

Atlantic City Democratic Committee Chairman Robert McDevitt wrote a letter today to Democratic State Chairman Joe Cryan declaring 2nd Ward Councilman Marty Small the local organization’s choice for mayor over incumbent Lorenzo Langford.

Cryan in response said he intends to stay out of the matter at this point and on advice from counsel believes McDevitt has the right to make the endorsement without the state party's imprimatur. 

“That decision is a clear validation of my campaign to bring big change to Atlantic City,” Small told PolitickerNJ.com.  

The local chairman’s decision comes following a deadlocked outcome at the committee’s mayor’s candidate forum on March 16 and subsequent communications with the state party committee.  

AC Mayor Lorenzo Langford, right, and Council President Speedy Marsh

EGG HARBOR – The tables at the Democratic Party convention here at the Vienna Inn bore flags with the names of Atlantic County’s 23 towns on them and delegates from those towns sat at those tables, and as they slapped backs, smooched and clapped, it was difficult not to notice two of Atlantic City’s four tables dominated by either Mayor Lorenzo Langford or Councilman Marty Small.

They dined sedately and separately with their respective entourages in chairs that appeared no different from any of the others, but these two men are in a war right now for the mayor’s seat back in their seaside hometown. 

They came out of a local Democratic Party meeting last week exactly deadlocked at 24 votes apiece.

Ward 2 Councilman Marty Small

In their quest for the Atlantic City Democratic Party’s support for their respective mayoral bids, incumbent Mayor Lorenzo Langford and Ward 2 Councilman Marty Small each received 24 votes from the local party committee tonight. 

As of right now, neither man can claim the party’s backing, and organization President Bob McDevitt intends to appeal to State Party Chairman Joseph Cryan about how he should proceed.

Bringing up the rear, Councilman Dennis Mason and former Neighborhood Services Director David Tayoun each received one vote.

Mayoral candidate Jesse O. Kurtz runs a GOP meeting in Atlantic City.

Running on the slogan, “Aren’t we all tired of the corruption,” Jesse O. Kurtz, chairman of the Atlantic City Republican Party, plans to formally launch his candidacy for mayor with his council slate on March 21st.

“Atlantic City Republicans are running a full slate of citywide candidates this year, for the first time in recent memory,” said Kurtz. “Our high property taxes are a result of the continual tax increases caused by Atlantic City's elected Democrats. Every recently indicted or arrested Atlantic City politician has been an elected Democrat.”