Ernest Coursey, Longtime County Commissioner and AC Champion, Dies

ATLANTIC CITY — Ernest Coursey, a dedicated public servant who spent more than 30 years fighting for the people of Atlantic City and Atlantic County, has died following a battle with colon cancer. He was 62.

A lifelong resident of Atlantic City, Coursey served as the lone Democrat on the Atlantic County Board of Commissioners at the time of his passing. Earlier this year, he had announced he would not seek re-election, citing health reasons. He also served as Chief of Staff to Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr.

“Today, the Great City of Atlantic City lost an icon,” Mayor Small said. “Ernest Coursey worked at City Hall for more than 39 years of stellar service — from the Clerk’s Office to becoming Deputy Mayor, and then my Chief of Staff. He was also a longtime County Commissioner and longtime 3rd Ward Atlantic City Councilman.”

First elected to the board — then known as the Board of Chosen Freeholders — in 2013, Coursey was re-elected three times, becoming a steadfast voice for working families, seniors, and historically underserved communities in District 1, which includes Atlantic City, Ventnor, Margate, Longport, and a portion of Egg Harbor Township.

Throughout his political career, Coursey was widely recognized for his deep commitment to public service, his open-door leadership style, and his passion for equity and accountability in government.

Born and raised in Atlantic City, Coursey began his political journey on the Atlantic City Council, where he served from 1991 to 2002. He was eventually elected council president and became known for community-driven initiatives.

In 2002, he resigned from Council to join Mayor Lorenzo Langford’s administration as a senior adviser — a role that expanded his influence on city policy and administration. More recently, he served as Chief of Staff to Mayor Small, further demonstrating his enduring dedication to his hometown.

In early 2025, Coursey publicly announced that he would not seek re-election in order to focus on his health, after completing 12 weeks of chemotherapy and preparing for surgery. Despite his diagnosis, he continued to advocate for cancer awareness and the importance of regular colonoscopy screenings.

“Had I kept up with my colonoscopies, I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in today,” he said in one of his final published interviews. He expressed hope that his experience would inspire others to prioritize preventive care.

Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Michael Suleiman called Coursey a tireless advocate and praised his decades of service. “Ernest had a gifted political mind and a solid pragmatism that made him an effective public servant,” Suleiman said in a prepared statement. “He exemplified Otto von Bismarck's maxim that ‘politics is the art of the possible.’ The fact that he earned the respect of Republicans and Democrats alike, despite having strongly held beliefs, is a testament to his many years of goodwill, constituent service, and dedication to Atlantic County.”

In one of his final acts of service to the city and county he loved, Coursey helped settle the long-disputed PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) program.

“Our total ratable base does not include the casinos,” Small said in April during his annual budget announcement. Under the PILOT program, Atlantic City receives funding from casinos based on collective gross gaming revenue (GGR), rather than traditional property taxes. The program was created in response to a wave of casino closures between 2014 and 2016, which prompted surviving casinos to dispute their tax burdens.

Atlantic County officials had long opposed the funding formula, arguing that it forced other municipalities to cover the difference. In 2021, the county filed suit against the state in response to modifications to the plan that officials deemed unfair. On April 2, 2025, a settlement was reached between state and county leaders, including longtime Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson and New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Jacquelyn Suárez.

Both Small and Levinson credited Coursey with facilitating the meeting that led to the agreement, which brought $15 million to the county and paved the way for future cooperation.

“Relationships matter,” Small said at the time. “It was Ernest Coursey, Dennis Levinson, and Jacqueline Suárez.” The PILOT legislation was set to expire at the end of 2026.

“This is a major loss — and that’s an understatement,” Small said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Coursey family and to all of us here in the Great City of Atlantic City. Words can’t begin to describe the devastating loss this is to our organization.”

Ernest Coursey is survived by his beloved wife, Leslie, and their two sons, Ernest Jr. and Ethan.

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