Three Democrats Run for New Haven's Ward 24 Alder Seat on Nov. 10

NEW HAVEN, CT — Voters in Edgewood's Ward 24 will choose a new alder in a special election on Tuesday, Nov. 10, picking among three Democrats to finish the term of Evette Hamilton, who stepped down after 15 years representing the ward.

The candidates are Randall Furlow, a pastor and the ward's Democratic co-chair; Lindsey Tengatenga, who leads a statewide nonprofit; and Jennifer Tillman, a realtor and former state social worker. Whoever wins will hold the seat until Hamilton's two-year term runs out at the end of 2027, the New Haven Independent reported.

How and Where to Vote

Ward 24's polls are open Nov. 10 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the firehouse at 120 Ellsworth Ave., Patch reported, citing the city's registrars of voters. Residents who want to vote ahead of time can do so Nov. 5 through Nov. 8, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., either at City Hall, 165 Church St., or in the Wintergreen Building at Southern Connecticut State University, 1 Wintergreen Ave.

The special election is separate from the Nov. 3 citywide election, whose early voting began Monday, Oct. 19, at the same two sites and runs through Nov. 1. The registrars take questions at 203-946-8035.

Who Is Running

Randall Furlow has served as a Ward 24 Democratic co-chair for 12 years. He is a pastor, and his cousin Richard Furlow is the Board of Alders majority leader. Speaking to the ward committee on Oct. 4, he promised to return calls and messages, keep in touch with city department heads and speak up for Edgewood. "I'm not entering into this work unfamiliar with New Haven politics or municipal leadership," he said, the Independent reported.

Lindsey Tengatenga will appear on the ballot under her legal maiden name, Lindsey Eichler. A 12-year resident of the ward and a mother of two, she is the executive director of Five Frogs, a statewide group that brings leaders together on racial equity. She told the committee her run is driven by "affordable access to healthy food, stronger civic participation, safer streets and sidewalks, support for immigrant families, youth empowerment, economic opportunity."

Jennifer Tillman, a lifelong New Haven resident, has lived in Edgewood for 23 years. She sells homes with Diamond Realty Partners, spent three decades as a psychiatric social worker for the state, and volunteers each Monday at Varick Church's food pantry. In an interview with the Independent, she put constituent services first: more lighting in the neighborhood and more measures to slow speeding drivers. Of Whalley Avenue, she said, "We lost a bank. We lost the pharmacy."

How the Ballot Was Set

The ward's Democratic committee endorsed Furlow on Sunday, Oct. 4, which guaranteed him a place on the ballot. Only eight people at the meeting were eligible to vote: six chose Furlow, one chose Tengatenga and one abstained. Tengatenga and Tillman had until Oct. 5 to petition their way on, and the Independent reported on Oct. 13 that voters will choose among all three.

Before the vote, Ward 24 resident Lauren Anderson, who owns the Possible Futures bookstore on Edgewood Avenue, questioned the process. She pointed out that the committee had gone more than a year without meeting, and that Furlow had emailed members claiming the support of Hamilton, among others. Hamilton later called in to the meeting to say she had not endorsed anyone, and Furlow issued a retraction, according to the Independent.

The committee has said it plans a candidate forum; as of the Independent's Oct. 5 report, no date or place had been set.

This is New Haven's third special election for alder this year. Christine Kim won Ward 7 in February, and Maria-Threese Serana won Ward 9 in September.

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