Atlantic City Free Public Library

Mayors of Atlantic City

Name		Year(s) as Mayor
Chalkley S. Leeds		1854 - 1856
Richard Hacket		1856 (one month)
John G.W. Avery		1856 - 1857
Lewis Reed		1858 - 1861
Chalkley S. Leeds		1862
Jacob Middleton		1863 - 1864
Robert T. Evard		1865
David W. Belisle		1866 - 1867
Lemuel C. Eldridge		1868 (three months)
John J. Gardner		1868 - 1872
Charles Souder		1873
John J. Gardner		1874 - 1875
Willard Wright		1876 - 1877
John L. Bryant		1878
Willard Wright		1879
Harry L. Slape		1880
Willard Wright		1881
Charles Maxwell		1882 - 1885
Thomas C. Garrett		1886
Samuel D. Hoffman		1887 - 1891
Willard Wright		1892 - 1893
Franklin P. Stoy		1894 - 1897
Joseph Thompson		1898 - 1899
Franklin P. Stoy		1900 - 1911
George Carmany		1911 (six months)
Harry Bacharach		1912 (six months)
William Riddle		1912 - 1916
Harry Bacharach		1916 - 1920
Edward L. Bader		1920 - 1927
Anthony M. Ruffu		1927 - 1930
Joseph Paxson		1930 (three weeks)
Harry Bacharach		1930 - 1935
Charles D. White		1935 - 1940
Thomas D. Taggart		1940 - 1944
Joseph Altman		1944 - 1967
Richard S. Jackson		1967 - 1969
William T. Somers		1969 - 1972
Joseph Bradway, Jr.		1972 - 1976
Joseph Lazarow		1976 - 1982
Michael J. Matthews		1982 - 1984
James L. Usry		1984 - 1990
James Whelan		1990 - 2001
Lorenzo Langford		2001 - 2005
Robert “Bob” Levy		2005 - October 10, 2007
William “Speedy” Marsh		October 10, 2007 - November 21, 2007
Scott K. Evans		November 21, 2007 - 2008
Lorenzo Langford		2008 - present

From 1854 to 1886, the mayor’s term of office was one year. From 1886 to 1912, the mayor’s term of office was two years. In 1912, the term of office became four years.

In November 2000, Atlantic City voters approved a referendum changing the date and form of municipal elections. Previously held in May, the date for elections was moved to November, and political party affiliation was included on the ballot. The first election following the referendum was held in November 2001, and the new mayoral term began on January 1, 2002.

The city’s first African-American mayor was James L. Usry. Atlantic City has never had an elected female mayor.

Related Resources in the Heston Collection

Detroit Bureau of Governmental Research. The Government of the City of Atlantic City, New Jersey: a report prepared for the Atlantic City Survey Commission. Detroit, Mich.: The Bureau, 1930. [photocopy]
Butler, Frank. Book of the Boardwalk. Atlantic City, NJ: Haines and Co., 1952.
English, A.L. History of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Philadelphia, Pa.: Dickson and Gilling: 1884.
Heston, Alfred M. History of Atlantic City Hall and Jail. [Atlantic City, NJ]: Alfred M. Heston, 1901.
Paulsson, Martin W. Politics and Progressivism in Atlantic City: a brief hour of reform. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University Microfilms, 1992. [photocopy]
University of Pennsylvania, Government Study Group, Department of Political Science. A New Government for Atlantic City: a strong mayor strong council plan. [Philadelphia, Pa.]:University of Pennsylvania, 1979.

Subject File:
Mayors of Atlantic City
Atlantic City - City Hall Officials
Additionally, there are biography files for most of the mayors, by last name.

Archival Collections:
Taggert Scrapbook Collection
Please see the Heston Collection Indexes at the Reference Desk to locate photographs and postcards on this subject.

Updated 3 March 2009.