Atlantic City’s Mayor Marty Small Sr. is expected to cruise to reelection — but will go on trial for allegedly abusing his teenage daughter next month, which could prevent him from taking office.
The beleaguered Dem is facing a challenge from Republican Naeem Khan, a Garden State native and businessman who is seeking office because of “how badly [Atlantic City] is being managed,” according to his campaign website.
If he wins as expected Tuesday, Small, 51, will be sworn into court on Dec. 1 — facing a slew of abuse charges — before he takes office in January.
He will appear in court alongside his wife La’Quetta Small, Newark’s superintendent of schools, in connection to several caught-on-video incidents in which they allegedly beat and choked their 16-year-old daughter unconscious.
In one December 2023 incident, Small beat his daughter unconscious with a broom, a belt, and his fists while the teen was on a video call with a boyfriend the parents disapproved of, court documents alleged.
“Don’t make me hurt you!” Small allegedly yelled in one clip.
In another recorded incident from Jan. 7, 2024, La’Quetta Small was recorded choking and punching her daughter in the mouth, according to court documents.
The couple were each charged with endangering the welfare of a child and disorderly persons’ simple assault, with Small Sr. facing additional charges of terroristic threats and aggravated assault.
Their home was raided by cops on April 2, 2024, during which authorities seized the mayor’s cell phones and laptops.
If convicted, Small Sr. could face a maximum of 10 years in prison and will not be allowed to take office, instead forcing the City Council to appoint an acting mayor until a special election is held, according to NJ.com.
Both the mayor and the superintendent have pleaded not guilty.
Small rejected a plea deal in Aug. that would have seen him avoid jail time but be barred from running for reelection, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Small was previously acquitted of voter fraud charges during his failed 2009 mayoral campaign and was found not guilty of ballot fraud allegations in 2006, NJ.com reported.
The mayor’s office did not respond to request for comment.
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