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. 

Atlantic City Councilman Marty Small, who ran unsuccessfully for Mayor in the 2009 Democratic primary, was indicted today on state voter fraud charges, according to radio personality Harry Hurley.

Click here to read Attorney General Anne Milgram's press release on the indictment of Small and 13 campaign workers. 

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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.”

ATLANTIC CITY – It’s an ancient political maxim that the closer you are to Caesar, the greater the fear, but in Atlantic City – with its recent record of mostly jailed or otherwise tarnished mayors – the saying might as well be the closer you are to Caesar’s Palace, the greater the brazenness. 

Council President William “Speedy” Marsh knows whoever takes on the job next year is going to have all the challenges intrinsic to the resort town – coupled with economic issues that are likely to present even tougher hurdles. 

“Forget about the next four years, I’m talking about the next four months,” he told PolitickerNJ.com.

ATLANTIC CITY – Local basketball and baseball star turned 2nd Ward City Councilman Marty Small wants to be mayor of Atlantic City, and says he intends to win the Democratic nomination next year.

“I’m running,” Small told PolitickerNJ.com on his way to Wednesday evening’s council meeting in City Hall on Bacharach Blvd. 

Atlantic County insiders say Small has a good shot. He’s well-known in his hometown and was a vigorous backer of President-elect Barack Obama. 

As the incumbent, Mayor Lorenzo Langford is regarded as the favorite in a mayoral contest. But if Council President William “Speedy” Marsh gets in the race, Small could seize the advantage.