A four-way alder race is gearing up in East Rock and Fair Haven’s Ward 9, now that a special election has been scheduled for Sept. 15. The candidates are seeking to fill the seat left behind by former Alder Caroline Tanbee Smith, who announced on June 23 that she would be moving out of the war d and formally stepped down from the Board of Alders on Aug. 5. The Secretary of the State finalized the election schedule on Thursday, Aug. 13. Candidates were required to petition their way onto the ballot by the next day. The candidates had to collect signatures from the equivalent of 1 percent of the people who voted in the last Ward 9 alder election — amounting to six signatures. The Secretary of the State’s office is now confirming that each candidate received six valid signatures in order to get onto the ballot. The following candidates submitted petitions: Gavin Arnold, a Nicoll Street resident and avid runner who works in process improvement at Webster Bank. Blaise Nash Berglund, an Orange Street resident, agricultural programs manager at CitySeed, and recent appointee to the city’s Food Policy Council. Conor Gilligan, a Bishop Street resident who will soon be an adjunct biology instructor at Sacred Heart and Connecticut College. Maria-Threese Serana, an Avon Street resident, longtime New Haven Public School educator, and frequent voice at Board of Education meetings. The Ward 9 alder represents sections of two neighborhoods, the Goatville section of East Rock and the northwestern corner of Fair Haven, spliced in two by the interstate. All of the prospective candidates live in the East Rock side of the ward. The winner of the special election will serve out the rest of Smith’s two-year term, through the end of December 2027. “Our Goal Is To Kick Open The Door” While the formal process moved swiftly, Smith, a Democrat, worked with Ward 9’s Democratic Ward Committee Co-Chairs, Claudia Herrera and Sarah Fritchey, to create an informal, open process for interested candidates in the weeks leading up to her resignation. “We do not want to have the previous experience we had, when previous alders disappeared” without providing much notice, if at all, before the election process began, said Herrera. Smith, Herrera and Fritchey spread the word about the upcoming open seat through social media, email newsletters, and presentations to both the East Rock and Fair Haven Community Management Teams. They offered to meet with anyone interested in running and spoke face-to-face with “at least seven” prospective candidates, according to Smith. “Part of my hope, because I know these special elections can turn around so fast,” was “to give particularly new candidates who had never run before a chance to reflect and think about it and ask questions,” said Smith. “With intention, we’re not making this an invite-only race,” said Fritchey. “Our goal is to kick open the door” without hand-selecting a single candidate. Herrera, Fritchey, and Smith are planning a public candidate forum. According to Smith, the time and place are being finalized but will be announced soon. The four-way race is an anomaly in the world of special elections for the Board of Alders. Some wards have scrambled to find even one candidate to run for a partial term. Smith expressed “how excited I am about the excitement.” She noted that at the start of her time as an alder, she decided that “a proxy for my effort, my advocacy while in the role was how many individuals were eager, excited, and ready to run after me.” She boiled down her approach to the role into three components, though she noted that “every one of my colleagues treats the role in a slightly different way.” Being an alder, according to Smith, means addressing neighborhood-specific issues, from potholes to stop signs to new developments. This often entails fielding calls and messages from residents, communicating with all kinds of city departments, staying on top of extreme weather and emergency responses, and convening and attending community meetings. Being an alder means tackling citywide issues, Smith said: following the budget process, voting on legislation, and advocating for new policies. Alders typically serve on three monthly committees in addition to attending twice-monthly full board meetings. Finally, being an alder entails “investing in communication such that neighbors can be advocates for themselves,” said Smith — through anything from newsletters to social media to community conversations to door-knocking. “It’s a significant time commitment — something to take very seriously,” Smith said. Asked about the qualities that make for a successful alder, Smith said that it’s important to know how to “move through moments of disagreement.” “You can have an issue where you have people that you genuinely care about” advocating for conflicting outcomes, she said. Herrera, who served as Ward 9’s alder prior to Smith, encouraged candidates to “know what you are fighting for” and remain cognizant of the needs of both halves of the ward. “If you don’t have that base, you’re gonna lose yourself in paperwork,” she said. Fritchey said she hopes the next Ward 9 alder is someone who is not “scared to take chances” and who leads with “courage.” Ward 9 Voter Information: Do you live in Ward 9? Are you registered to vote? How To Register — Deadlines are Aug. 28 by mail or online, Sept. 14 in person If you aren’t registered yet, there’s still time! Eligible voters with a Connecticut license or ID can register to vote online. You can also register in person at the Registrar of Voters’ office, or by mailing a registration form the office, located at 200 Orange St #201, New Haven, CT 06510. For this election, the deadline to register online or by mail is Friday, Aug. 28. The deadline to register in person at the Registrars’ office is Monday, Sept. 14. Vote By Absentee Ballot — Deadline to request is Sept. 14 You can request an absentee ballot for this special election between now and Monday, Sept. 14. The City Town Clerk’s office has to receive your ballot by the end of election day: 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15. You can request a ballot online or submit a physical application. Physical applications can be printed out in English or Spanish on the City Town Clerk’s website, or you can visit the clerk’s office in person to receive one. The application can be hand-delivered or mailed to the City Town Clerk’s office at the following address: CITY TOWN CLERKHALL OF RECORDS200 ORANGE ST, ROOM 202NEW HAVEN, CT 06510-2067 Once you receive and fill out your absentee ballot, you can drop it off or mail it to the City Town Clerk’s office. Absentee ballots can also be dropped off in ballot boxes located outside 200 Orange St. and by the rear entrance of City Hall (165 Church St.) Important: Mail your ballot with the envelope provided to you — and remember to sign your name in the voter signature box! Otherwise, your ballot won’t count. Early Voting — Sept. 10-13 Early voting will be available from 10 a.m. To 6 p.m. on Sept. 10, 11, 12, and 13 (Thursday through Sunday). Location TBA. Election Day — Sept. 15 Election day itself is Tuesday, Sept. 15. The polls will be open from 6 a.m. To 8 p.m. Historically, Ward 9’s polling place has been located at East Rock Community Magnet School. More details to be confirmed! Voter Eligibility FAQs What if I’ve been convicted of a felony? If you’ve been convicted of a felony but are not currently incarcerated for that felony, you are eligible to re-register and restore your voting rights. (Exception: If you’ve been convicted of violating election law, contact the Registrar of Voters at (203) 946-8035.) Read more. What if I do not have a permanent address? In Connecticut, even if you do not have a permanent address, you can still register to vote in “a town that you have spent time in, slept in, and intend to go back to, even if you are not presently there.” Read more. What if I don’t have a photo ID? You can still vote! To register in person, you’ll need to bring someofficial proof of your name and address. This can include a photo ID, but it can also include a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or othergovernment document featuring your name and address. You may be asked to sign an affidavit or cast a provisional ballot. Read more. What if I am a college student originally from out of state? College students can choose whether to register either in Connecticut or in their home states. Read more. What if I’m not 18 yet, but turning 18 soon? If you will turn 18 either before or on election day, you can register to vote and even participate in early voting prior to your birthday. The post 4-Way Race Takes Shape For Ward 9 Alder appeared first on New Haven Independent. ...read more read less