Rally set for Tuesday for Atlantic City mayor, officials

Small and his wife, La’Quetta, superintendent of the district’s schools, had their Presbyterian Avenue home searched March 28 by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.

The same day law enforcement served Small a search warrant, Constance Days-Chapman, the principal of Atlantic City High School, was charged with official misconduct and other charges for allegedly failure to report child abuse.

On his radio show, In The Mixx, as well as on social media, Small said a community rally is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday in the Civil Rights Garden on Pacific Avenue and South Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The rally will include National Action Network regional director the Rev. Steffie Bartley, state Democratic Committee chairman Leroy Jones, NAACP of Atlantic City President and City Council Vice President Kaleem Shabazz and several other public officials.

“Special thanks to the committee of powerful people throughout the state (listed to attend) for having a community rally of support for Constance “Mandy” Days-Chapman, (my wife) Dr. La’Quetta Small, myself and our families,” Small wrote.

Days-Chapman also is the president of the city’s Democratic Committee and in 2021 headed Small Sr.’s reelection campaign. She is due to appear in court at 10 a.m. April 24.

Small held a news conference Monday with attorney Ed Jacobs to address the raid on his home, confirming that it and the charges brought against Day-Chapman were related. He made the announcement with his family standing by his side.

Calling the investigation “racially and politically motivated,” Small stressed there are no allegations of wrongdoing in his job as mayor.

“We are dealing with DCP&P (state Division of Child Protection and Permanency) … we are going to family therapy,” he said, declining to discuss specifics of the family situation.

The mayor also criticized the way the search warrants were executed. The block of Presbyterian Avenue on which Small lives was closed for a portion of the morning of March 28 because of the heavy police presence around his home.

Atlantic County Prosecutor William Reynolds issued a statement saying officers from his office conducted themselves in the highest professional manner.

“Standard operating procedures and protocols in executing residential search warrants were utilized to ensure the safety of all occupants of the residence, neighbors and law enforcement alike,” Reynolds said. “These procedures are put in place for safety reasons and these procedures do not deviate regardless of one’s political, professional, or social status. Both Mayor Small and Dr. Small were treated with dignity and respect during the entire process.”

Staff Writer Michelle Brunetti Post contributed to this report.