Thomas MacMillan File Photo
With just four signatures, Jessica Holmes got the support she needed to land a place on a Nov. 2 ballot for East Rock alderman.
Holmes (pictured), a former union organizer, is seeking to replace Roland Lemar, who retired last week as Ward 9 alderman after serving for nearly four years. She faces lifelong East Rocker and graphic designer Matt Smith, the Democratic nominee.
After winning a hard-fought Democratic primary, Lemar faces no opposition in a Nov. 2 election to replace retiring State Rep. Cam Staples in the 96th District General Assembly Seat.
Smith beat Holmes and a third candidate, Jane Edelstein, in a vote among 35 party members for the Democratic nomination last week. Edelstein dropped out of the race and backed Smith.
Holmes pressed on as a nominating candidate. To get on the ballot, she had to collect signatures from registered Ward 9 voters, equal to 1 percent of the votes cast for the same office at the last election. Lemar was reelected in 2009 with 378 votes, so she needed only four signatures to get on the ballot.
Holmes submitted five signatures before the deadline this week, according to Deputy City Clerk Sally Brown. Brown validated the signatures.
“As far as I’m concerned, she’s on the ballot,” Brown said.
Holmes is also seeking the endorsement of the Working Families Party, Brown added.
The special election is now officially set for Nov. 2, the same day as the statewide election for hotly contested races for U.S. Senate and governor.