Bob McDevitt, second from right, is leading a ticket that includes, from left, John Devlin, Akbar Hussain and Steve Young.
Atlantic City's mayor kicked off his re-election campaign two weeks ago pointing out that he has 22 uninterrupted years of elected service.
Starting with the Board of Education to City Council and then as mayor.
"There's a plan to keep that up for at least four more years," he said.
But a longtime union leader is looking to end the streak.
This weekend, Bob McDevitt officially announced his campaign for mayor, along with a ticket of three at-large candidates that include longtime Marty Small rivals John Devlin and Steve Young.
Newcomer Akbar Hussain rounds out the ticket that is focusing on the mantra of clean and safe.
"In this city, people like this aren't safe," McDevitt said as he brought up his wife and 5-year-old son.
"One corner up from my house, a man was brutally beaten, almost to death, several months ago in a park," he said, standing on the Boardwalk near the Tropicana on Saturday.
"In a city park where children are supposed to play," he said. "That’s what happened right around the corner from my house."
The former president of Local 54 has a long history in the city, with his family going back 100 years.
He said he believes in an Atlantic City his son can grow up to be proud of, with thriving businesses, happy healthy residents and safe clean streets.
Joining him was Devlin, a retired Atlantic City police officer who served on the Board of Education, including as president.
“I started my first job on this Boardwalk sweeping it, and to walk up here today and see how dirty these streets are," he said. "I’ve been up here for 30 minutes and not one police officer has rode by, it’s a disgrace.”
Meanwhile, Young has long been vocal about safety in Atlantic City.
The head of the local National Action Network has worked with law enforcement and, most recently, has been pushing to bring attention to the residents "living in squalor" under the Atlantic City Housing Authority.
Rounding out the ticket is Hussain, who said the community's diversity is not represented in the school staff or City Hall.
The accountant who has lived in the city for 25 years helps immigrants prepare for citizenship and supports his community's culture with the Bangladeshi Press Club and Atlantic City Cricket Team.
He spoke to the lack of safety the South East Asian community and the entire community feels.
Small said had no comment on the announcement, but threw down the gauntlet against his challenger McDevitt.
"I look forward to destroying him in debates from Maine to Jackson and every neighborhood in between," he told BreakingAC. "This ain't what he wants."
Small's ticket includes current Councilwoman Stephanie Marshall, who is looking to win a second term.
Patricia Bailey, who was chosen to fill in after Councilman Bruce Weekes stepped down, is looking to win her first election on City Council.
She served on the Board of Education for 13 years before stepping down last year just prior to joining council. Bailey and Devlin often were on opposite sides during their time on the school board together.
Small's ticket also has a representative of the South East Asian community with M. Suhel Ahmed.
"I pledge to bring my dedication, my work ethics and my heart to this role," he said during the Jan. 21 announcement at Second Baptist Church.
