Atlantic City's Democratic Committee will send three names to City Council to pick the city's new mayor.
But even the two nominated against him threw their support behind Marty Small.
"I'm humbled," said Small, who was sworn in as acting mayor last week, a day after Frank Gilliam resigned amid his admission to stealing more than $87,000 from a youth basketball camp he helped found.
Pamela Thomas-Fields and Committee President Gwen Callaway Lewis were also nominated at the quick meeting that saw the 33 committee members back the only three names mentioned.
Durwood Pinkett, an Executive Board member who was part of the group that split from the old Democratic Committee after a loss of faith in Gilliam, said he believes Small can heal the fractured city.
Pinkett, who grew up with Small, said he didn't think his friend was ready for the leadership roll in past years, but has seen him mature and now has confidence that Small can be a great leader.
The Asian community is backing him as well. They were the deciding factor in the last two mayoral elections.
Former Mayor Don Guardian pulled an upset over Democratic incumbent Mayor Lorenzo Langford in 2013.
The community then switched sides in 2017, backing Gilliam.
“We’re taking one more chance backing Marty,” said Fifth Ward council candidate M Anjum Zia.
