Markeshia Ricks Photo
Eidelson: This year’s official Democratic non-Democrat.
Yale Alder Sarah Eidelson will serve another two-year term as the Board of Alders “third officer” — a job created to fill a slot otherwise reserved for Republicans or independents on legislative bodies that have any.
The “third officer” serves as one of the members of leadership to act in lieu of a “minority party” representative and occupies the “minority party” alder seat on various boards of commissions when New Haven has no Republican or independent elected alders.
Which is the case now. All 30 members of the Board of Alders are Democrats.
In the past, when the board had one Republican or independent, that person could end up being named to every board committee and every commission that had a legal requirement for multipartisan representation.
New Haven does not have an election system like the one in, say, Hartford, that guarantees spots on the legislative council for members of minority parties.
A Yale union employee who fended off a Democratic primary challenger and Republican one last year, Eidelson was elected at last week’s full board meeting to the minority leader position.
She had been previously elected to serve in that position in April.
President Pro Tem Jeanette Morrison rose in support of Eidelson saying that she has “really shown strong leadership on the board over the last four years, especially with the youth and just coming into leadership last term.”
Beaver Hills Alder Brian Wingate, who has served with Eidelson on the board’s Youth Committee for the last two years, also stood in support of her, saying she had “proven to be an excellent leader.”
Eidelson thanked colleagues for their support. She promised “to work on driving the legislative agenda forward. I look forward to continuing that work.”
Alders Tuesday night also voted to approve the following assignments of its members to city commissions and committees:
Ad Hoc Living Wage Commission: Jessica Holmes and Darryl Brackeen Jr.
Affirmative Action Commission: Darryl Brackeen Jr.
School Readiness Council (formerly Commission on Early Childhood Education –Educare): Santiago Berrios-Bones
Capital Projects Committee: Rosa Santana
City Plan Commission: Adam Marchand
Cultural Affairs Commission: Jill Marks
Development Commission: Sarah Eidelson
Emergency Management Advisory Council: Sal DeCola
Environmental Advisory Council: Sal DeCola
Equal Opportunities Commission: Delphine Clyburn
Food Policy Council: Richard Furlow
Legal Assistance Association: Evette Hamilton
Litigation Settlement Committee: Tyisha Walker
Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Reading: Richard Furlow
Parks Commission: Ernie Santiago
Peace Commission. Dolores Colon
Property Acquisition and Disposition Committee: Gerald Antunes and Brian Wingate
Redevelopment Agency Advisory Council: Delphine Clyburn
New Haven Slavery Task Force: Alfreda Edwards
Solid Waste Authority: Gerald Antunes
Transfer Committee: Rosa Santana
Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority: Alphonse Paolillo
Youth Commission: Santiago Berrios-Bones and Carlton Staggers