Christine Kim will be the next alder for Ward 7 after handily winning a low-turnout special election Tuesday to fill a seat vacated by fellow Democrat Eli Sabin. Kim beat Republican candidate Kyle Ross 166 to 31. Since there are 2,860 registered voters in the ward, that means turnout for the special election was just under 7 percent. “I’m feeling tired but very grateful and excited,” Kim said after the polls at 200 Orange St. closed at 8 p.m. “I’m excited to do this work. I have a lot to learn.” Kim is a longtime New Havener, mother of two young children, board chair of the local farmers market nonprofit CitySeed, and a founder of AAPI New Haven. She’s currently finishing up her latest two-year stint as Ward 7 Democratic co-chair. She was joined at the polls Tuesday evening by one of her successors as Democratic co-chair, Lisa Siedlarz. (The ward’s other incoming Democratic co-chair is Kevin McCarthy). While Tuesday’s election was technically contested, only Kim’s name appeared on the ballot. That’s because Ross — a financial advisor and first-time candidate — and the local Republican Party did not submit the complete paperwork required for his name to appear on the ballot, leaving him to run as a write-in. The Ward 7 alder seat has been empty since Jan. 1, when Sabin resigned minutes before he was set to be sworn in to a new two-year term. Sabin subsequently moved to Westville, and is now running in a three-way race for state representative against Democratic incumbent Pat Dillon and fellow Democratic challenger Justin Farmer. Kim’s victory Tuesday means that she’ll finish out Sabin’s two-year term, which ends Dec. 31, 2027. Kim’s vote total consisted of 109 votes at the machines on Election Day, 54 early votes, and 3 absentee-ballot votes. Ross earned 19 votes at the machines on Tuesday, 12 early votes, and 0 absentee-ballot votes. Kim (third from left) with supporters Alders Caroline Smith, Sarah Miller, Richard Furlow, and Elias Theodore, and incoming Ward 7 Dem co-chair Lisa Siedlarz. The post Kim Wins Alder Election appeared first on New Haven Independent. ...read more read less