Residents of the 28th Ward are in an unusual situation as a result of the surprise announcement that Alderwoman Heather Navarro has resigned with a year remaining on her term. Her resignation is effective this Friday, January 24, following which she will help launch the Midwest Climate Collaborative at Washington University.
There is good reason for Heather to have accepted this new role, having worked in the environmental field for many years, but the timing means that the 12,088 residents of the 28th Ward will be without representation in the Board of Aldermen—at least temporarily—at a critical time when ward reduction and determination of how and where federal stimulus funds will be allocated are front-burner issues.
What’s unprecedented about the timing of the resignation is that, as of December 14, 2021, the 28th Ward no longer exists. That is when the Board of Aldermen voted to approve a new ward map reducing the existing 28 Wards by half and redrawing boundaries so each new ward has an equal number of residents. Residents of the 28th Ward are now divided between new Wards 9 and 10, see map above. Aldermanic elections for the newly configured wards will be held in Spring of 2023. So, where does that leave us and what’s the plan going forward?
I reached out to Alderwoman Navarro, 28th Ward Democratic Committeeman Mike Gras and Committeewoman Gail Farwell for comments on what we can expect.
As of this posting, I’ve heard from Mike and Heather who said they anticipate there will be a special election similar to the one held when Alderwoman Lyda Krewson stepped down early to become Mayor and Heather was elected to fill out her term.
Yesterday Mike said, and Heather confirmed, that it’s anticipated that 28th Ward Committeeman and Committeewoman (Gras and Farwell) will propose a candidate who lives within the former 28th Ward boundaries to fill out the remainder of Heather’s term. That nominee will be sent to the Democratic Central Committee which will name a candidate to run in a mid-April election (75 to 90 days after the resignation). The Republican Central Committee will do the same. The Democratic Central Committee meets on the last Saturday of the month (January 29).
Gras said it’s possible for an independent candidate to get on the ballot too. In order to qualify, a potential candidate would need to obtain signatures from 10% of the 28th Ward residents who voted in the last mayoral election in April 2021. Surprisingly, the total number of 28th Ward voters in that election was a disappointing 2999, so an independent candidate would need only 299 signatures to qualify. (It’s rather sad that there isn’t more interest in local elections, especially from a Ward I assumed would be more actively involved in what happens locally.)
Until we have a new alderperson, in mid-April, here is what you are advised to do if there is an issue for which you would normally have contacted the alderperson.
You can email or call the Citizen’s Service Bureau (314) 622-4800), reach out to Heather’s assistant LaMesha Byrd, (314) 622-3287, or contact the Neighborhood Improvement Specialist Brian Kolde, [email protected], (314) 657-1364. Heather also advised that she will still be available, so reach out to her on her website as well.
To hear more about this important topic join the 28th Ward Regular Democrat Club meeting tomorrow evening, Thursday, January 20 at 7:30 p.m. on Zoom (you can sign in as early as 7 p.m.). Here is the link.
What a great service to the community, Nicki. Local elections are becoming super-important.
Heather, thanks for your service.
Wow! Such change and with it much uncertainty. The 28th Ward has had such an important role in local politics in recent years. Although hard to do, residents will have to embrace the change and for now find that one person who can lead. I keep all in my prayers.