Atlantic City, New Jersey, was incorporated on May 1, 1854. It is governed within the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) under the mayor–council system of municipal government (Plan D), implemented by direct petition effective as of July 1, 1982.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 12."The Faulkner Act: New Jersey's Optional Municipal Charter Law" , New Jersey State League of Municipalities, July 2007. Accessed October 22, 2013. The Atlantic City City Council is the governing body of Atlantic City. There are nine Council members, who are elected to serve for a term of four years, one from each of six wards and three serving at-large. The City Council exercises the legislative power of the municipality for the purpose of holding Council meetings to introduce ordinances and resolutions to regulate City government. In addition, Council members review budgets submitted by the Mayor; provide for an annual audit of the city's accounts and financial transactions; organize standing committees and hold public hearings to address important issues which impact Atlantic City.Elected Officials , Atlantic City. Accessed November 19, 2016. Former Mayor Bob Levy created the Atlantic City Ethics Board in 2007, but the Board was dissolved two years later by vote of the Atlantic City Council. Since its incorporation in 1854, the town has had 41 mayors. Mayors # Mayor Image Term start Term end Terms Party Notes Chalkley Steelman Leeds 1856 2 NoneThis was his first term. Richard Hackett 1856 1856 None John George Washington Avery 1856 1857 1 None Lewis Reed 1857 1861 4 None James Harper 1861 1862 1 None Chalkley Steelman Leeds 1862 1863 1 NoneThis was his second term. Jacob Middleton 1863 1865 2 None Robert T. Evard 1865 1866 1 Republican David W. Belisle 1866 1868 2 Republican Lemuel G. Eldridge 1868 1868 Partial Republican John James Gardner 1868 1872 4 RepublicanStaff. "Ex-Congressman John J. Gardner", The New Jersey Law Journal, Volume 44, p. 95. Accessed February 4, 2013. "While not a lawyer it was not his fault that he was not a member of the New Jersey Bar. This is to be said of Ex-Congressman John J. Gardner of, formerly, Atlantic City, who died on his farm at Indian Mills, Burlington county on Feb. 7th last, of heart disease." Charles Souder 1872 1874 2 Republican John James Gardner 1874 1876 2 Republican Willard Wright 1876 1878 2 Democratic John L. Bryant 1878 1879 1 Republican Willard Wright 1879 1880 1 Democratic Harry L. Slape 1880 1881 1 Republican Willard Wright 1881 1882 1 Democratic Charles Maxwell 1882 1885 3 Republican Thomas C. Garrett 1885 1887 2 Republican Samuel D. Hoffman 1887 1891 4 Republican Willard Wright 1891 1894 3 Democratic Franklin Pierce Stoy 1894 1897 3 Republican (January 23, 1853 – July 22, 1911). He became a Councilman at Large of the local government in 1891 and, three years later, was elected chief executive. Known as the "Dandy Mayor,". He died in office in his second term of neuritis on July 22, 1911. Joseph Thompson 1897 1900 3 Democratic Franklin Pierce Stoy † 1900 1911 3 RepublicanHe became a Councilman at Large of the local government in 1891 and, three years later, was elected chief executive. Known as the "Dandy Mayor,". He died in office in his second term of neuritis on July 22, 1911. George Carmany 1911 1912 Partial Republican Harry Bacharach 1912 1912 1 Republican William Riddle 1912 1916 1 Democratic Harry Bacharach 1916 1920 1 Republican Edward Lawrence Bader † 1920 1927 2 RepublicanHe died in office. Anthony Ruffu, Jr. 1927 1930 1 Republican Joseph A. Paxson 1930 1930 Partial Republican Harry Bacharach 1930 1935 1 Republican Charles D. White 1935 1940 1 Republican Thomas D. Taggart, Jr. 1940 1944 1 Democratic Joseph Altman † 1944 1967 6 RepublicanHe died in office. He served for years. Joseph Altman is the longest-serving mayor of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Richard S. Jackson 1967 1969 Partial Republican William Thomas Somers 1969 1972 1 Democratic Joseph Bradway Jr. 1972 1976 1 Republican Joseph Lazarow 1976 1982 1 RepublicanAtlantic City Free Public Library FAQ Michael J. Matthews 1982 1984 Democratic James Leroy Usry 1984 1990 1 Republican First African-American Mayor Jim Whelan 1990 2002 3 Democratic Lorenzo Langford 2002 2005 1 Democratic"Mayoral Showdown: Interview with Lorenzo Langford" , Gros, Roger, Casino Connection, May 2005 Robert Levy 2006 2007 Partial Democratic"And the newly sworn-in Atlantic City mayor is ... William 'Speedy' Marsh" , The Press of Atlantic City, October 10, 2007 Scott Evans 2007 2008 Partial Democratic"New AC mayor promises stability", The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 21, 2007 Lorenzo Langford"Langford back as Atlantic City mayor", The Press of Atlantic City, November 5, 2008 2008 2013 1 Democratic Don Guardian 2014 2017 1 Republican"Vote count appears to seal win for AC mayoral challenger Guardian", "Philadelphia Inquirer", December 1, 2014. Frank Gilliam 2018 2019 Partial Democratic Gilliam resigned as mayor on October 3, 2019, following pleading guilty to wire fraud earlier that day in Federal Court "Atlantic City Mayor Gilliam resigns after guilty plea in federal court, Small to take over " The Press of Atlantic City, October 03, 2019. Marty Small Sr.2019 Present 1 DemocraticServed as Acting Mayor for an unexpired term ending on December 31, 2020. Reelected." Atlantic City Council votes Small, state 'won't miss a beat' with new mayor" The Press of Atlantic City, October 15, 2019.
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