A longtime reverend with close ties to Atlantic City and its current leadership has stepped into the political ring.
The Rev. Collins Days Sr. is running for Atlantic County commissioner in the First District, the Atlantic County Democratic Committee announced Wednesday.
He is looking to fill the spot being vacated by Ernest Coursey, who previously said he will not run for a fifth term, citing health issues.
"I fell in love with this area when I first came to preach here 30 years ago," Days said in a news release. "Atlantic County is a wonderful place to live, but many of our folks are struggling to make ends meet. When I heard that Commissioner Coursey was not seeking re-election, I knew that the residents of Absecon Island needed a strong advocate like Ernest to help lower costs, improve our roads, and help those in need. That's why I'm proud to announce my candidacy for County Commissioner."
Coursey has endorsed Days to take his seat.
"I am so honored and humbled that my dear friend Ernest Coursey has been so encouraging of my candidacy," Days said. "My goal is to be as effective of a county commissioner as Ernest was to improve the quality of life for residents of the First District."
The announcement comes two weeks after Days' Second Baptist Church hosted the kick off to Mayor Marty Small's re-election campaign.
Days led the opening prayer, asking God to bless the mayor and his family.
Second Baptist is one of the largest congregations in the region, with about 2,000 members across South Jersey.
While he is a Democrat, the announcement pointed out that he received nonpartisan approval in 2021, when he was chosen to serve on the Stockton University Board of Trustees.
He leads or is involved with several local nonprofits that focus on drug addiction and recovery, expanding home ownership for lower income residents, and mentoring at-risk youth.
Days is a past president of the Fellowship of Churches of Atlantic City & Vicinity and served on the Atlantic City Long Term Recovery Group, which helped residents on Absecon Island rebuild after Hurricane Sandy.
He and his wife live in the city, and have four children and eight grandchildren.
Days' daughter is Constance Days-Chapman, the Atlantic City High School principal who is currently suspended for allegedly failing to report abuse claims by the Smalls' daughter.
Her attorney alleges she is charged only because of her relationship to the Smalls, whose children refer to her as Aunt Mandy, her nickname.
Rev. Days has made no public mention about the issue, but seemed to touch on those who would try to attack the mayor and his family during last month's re-election announcement.
Quoting Isaiah, he talked of "no weapon formed against them shall be able to prosper ... God you promise that every tongue that is raised against them shall be stopped and made ashamed."
