Edgewood Alder Evette Hamilton plans to step down from her local-legislative role on Sept. 30, teeing up a special election for the Ward 24 seat on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Hamilton, a Democrat and former chair of the Board of Alders Finance Committee, worked for 25 years in medical billing and coding for the Yale School of Medicine. She was first elected as Ward 24 alder in 2011, and currently serves as the chair of the Aldermanic Affairs Committee. A long-time Local 34 member, she was one of more than a dozen Yale union-affiliated candidates to topple incumbents and surge into power that year — kicking off more than a decade of UNITE HERE influence in City Hall. Hamilton, 69, retired from her Yale job in 2022 and currently serves on the executive board for the Yale University retirees union. “I’ve enjoyed my time working with the city and deeply appreciated the opportunity for personal growth, invaluable experience gained, and the chance to contribute to the city’s success,” Hamilton wrote in an Aug. 31 resignation letter addressed to Mayor Justin Elicker. “I am grateful for the opportunity to have served our community since 2011, and the indispensable knowledge and experience will take me through life, and for that I am grateful. Thank you for your leadership and support throughout my tenure.” Hamilton’s resignation comes nearly two months after she sold her house at 327 Edgewood Ave. on July 6. In an interview with the Independent at the time, Hamilton said that it was “time for me to downsize,” though she planned on staying within the ward. In a phone interview on Friday, Hamilton said she’s stepping down because “it’s my time now to take my leave and give someone else an opportunity to serve our community,” especially now that her children are grown. Will she be staying in New Haven? “Right now, I don’t know where my destiny lies.” She stressed that New Haven is her home and has been ever since she moved here from Jamaica in 1970. That said, “I had a struggling winter last winter,” and she is considering finding somewhere warmer to live. “I did this with a heavy heart,” Hamilton said about stepping down as alder. She expressed pride in her leadership of the Finance Committee over the course of several budget cycles, in working with Board of Alders President Tyisha Walker-Myers and Dwight Alder Frank Douglass in hosting an annual Edgewood block party, and in “being able to support my residents” and advocate for safe, affordable, “equitable, fair” housing. Her advice for whoever next serves as Ward 24 alder? “When residents call you with problems and situations, respond. Respond to the people. If you can’t help them, find someone that can.” Hamilton’s resignation means that there will be a special election to fill the Ward 24 alder seat. Per the city charter, that special election has to take place no more than 45 days “from the effective day of vacancy,” according to city spokesperson Lenny Speiller. Speiller said that the city clerk’s office has selected Tuesday, Nov. 10 as the date for the Ward 24 alder special election. Whoever wins that election will fill out the rest of Hamilton’s current two-year term, which runs through the end of 2027. Hamilton’s resignation also marks the third time so far this year that an alder has stepped away from their post. On Jan. 1, less than an hour before he was set to be inaugurated to a third two-year term as alder for Downtown/East Rock’s Ward 7, Eli Sabin resigned and moved to Westville in order to run for state representative. Christine Kim, a fellow Democrat, won a special election in February to fill that seat. And on Aug. 5, Caroline Tanbee Smith formally stepped down as alder for East Rock/Fair Haven’s Ward 9 after buying a house and moving a few blocks outside of the ward’s bounds. The special election for that seat is slated for Sept. 15. See below for Hamilton’s resignation letter. The post Hamilton To Resign As Ward 24 Alder appeared first on New Haven Independent. ...read more read less