Atlantic City Can’t Do Anything Without Controversy

Earlier this week, the Atlantic City Democratic Committee selected the three candidates to replace resigned-and-disgraced ex-mayor Bob Levy. And it turns out there was controversy throughout the meeting!

Here’s how it works: The Democratic City Committee chooses three candidates to replace the vacant mayoral position, currently held on an interim basis by William “Speedy” Marsh. The three candidates council will have to pick from are Business Administrator Domenic Cappella, ex-City Councilwoman Barbara Hudgins and Fire Department Battalion Chief Scott Evans. The chair of the meeting was, naturally, Fire Department Battalion Chief Scott Evans.

And Evans only allowed one person to nominate the candidates for mayor, leading to a predictable cry of corruption from the masses:

Committee member Eva Garrison danced as she left the building. “We need people in here that care for the people of the city, not just themselves.” [...]

“If you get voted up or down, fine. But one man’s nomination? The process was totally flawed, closed, and in the end you got what the people don’t want,” Marsh said.

Robert McDevitt was one of the loudest critics. McDevitt, president of the casino workers union Local 54 of UNITE HERE, said he ran thousands of meetings.

“If I did what Scott [Evans] did tonight, I would be led away in handcuffs.” Pointing to the yellow police line that separated the committee members from the audience and media, he said, “I’m glad there’s crime scene tape, because this is criminal. There are criminals running the city.”

City Council has to vote on the nominations by Nov. 9, but nobody knows if they’re going to view the three candidates chosen as legitimate due to the ridiculousness of the meeting! Oh, and a guy who voted at the meeting is charged with blackmailing a city councilman with a prostitute! Ha ha, Atlantic City!

Oh, actually, one thing did go well: The implosion of the Sands casino went off without a hitch!

Cappella, Evans or Hudgins to replace Levy [Press of Atlantic City]
From Sands to pile of dust [Press of Atlantic City]