Dr. Kim Holmes would make history if selected by the governor’s office to serve as Atlantic County prosecutor, and her name is in play for the law enforcement position, according to sources with knowledge of the process.

Holmes has considerable respect within her field of expertise, and professional knowledge of the county and its environs.

Assistant Commissioner and Chief of Staff to Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver at the state Department of Community Affairs, Holmes has a doctorate from Drew University, and a law degree from Seton Hall University. Her extensive professional background includes service as the municipal prosecutor for the City of Orange, assistant prosecutor for the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, and chief of staff for the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel.

If the governor’s office were to move forward with Holmes as Atlantic County Prosecutor, she would make history as the first African American female to serve as prosecutor of the county.

At present, Cary Shill serves as the acting prosecutor of Atlantic County.  Shill became acting prosecutor in July, when  Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner submitted his resignation to Gov. Phil Murphy and Interim NJ State Attorney General Andrew Bruck. Tyner gave no public reason for his resignation, but faced numerous ethics violations during his tenure. Murphy appointed Tyner as the Atlantic County Prosecutor on March 15, 2017. His term was not due to expire until March 2022.

Holmes began her current job at the state Department of Community Affairs at a critical juncture in the history of Atlantic City, in a department serving as a key contact point as Atlantic City tries to return to local control. 

According to the Department of Community Affairs:

The Office of Atlantic City Initiatives is a team within the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) that reports directly to the Office of the DCA Commissioner. It is responsible for developing an implementation plan for critical elements of the Atlantic City Transition Report, which was issued in September 2018 to provide the City and State with a roadmap for tackling the city’s longstanding challenges. The office has several key functions, including:

• Provide staff support for the work of the Atlantic City Executive Council and Atlantic City Coordinating Council;
• Produce quarterly and annual reports on the implementation of the Atlantic City Transition Report;
• Work with the Stockton University Office of Atlantic City Solutions to coordinate academic and policy support with Stockton professors and other experts to advance the goals of the Atlantic City Transition Report;
• Act as a liaison to some initiatives already underway to revitalize Atlantic City; and
• Oversee and coordinate the day-to-day effort of the working groups that have developed in connection with the Atlantic City Transition Report.