The Third Ward Democratic Committee has selected Latrice James (pictured) to fill a vacant seat on the Board of Alders from the Hill neighborhood.
The committee met Wednesday night at the apartment building at 33 Sylvan Ave. to choose a candidate for the seat, from which JeQueena Foreman resigned last week. Several neighbors had considered running. In the end, only James put her name into consideration, so she was chosen unanimously.
Other candidates had until 4 p.m. Thursday to file papers to have their names put on the ballot as unaffiliated candidates in a special election. No one ended up filing, according to the city clerk’s office.
That means James will ascend to the seat unless another candidate emerges to file papers to qualify as a write-in candidate. In that case a special election would take place Sept. 5.
A graduate of Spelman College, James currently works as a math and science supervisor at Platt Technical High School and is pursuing an advanced degree at Columbia University’s Teachers College. She is the sister of former Ward 3 Alder and former Democratic Town Chair Jackie James, who now oversees minority and small-business development for the Harp administration.
Alders have also resigned and been replaced this term in Wards 7, 16, 19, and 27. The term began on Jan. 1.
Potential Ward 3 candidates had a week to decide whether to run and then qualify for the ballot, under rules established by state law. Town Chair Vincent Mauro Jr. said Thursday he’d like to see rules changed to allow for a longer period following a resignation before potential candidates need to file papers to have their names appear on the ballot. That would give more of a chance for more candidates to emerge. “There’s no time to vet things,” Mauro said.
The Third Ward Democratic Committee has selected Latrice James (pictured) to fill a vacant seat on the Board of Alders from the Hill neighborhood.
Tammany Hall politricks.This is why we must get rid of these crooked town committees and have IRV voting.