Sophia King Meeting Aldermen Before Confirmation To 4th Ward Seat
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A day after Mayor Rahm Emanuel named her as his choice for the next alderman of the 4th Ward, Sophia King met some of her future colleagues.
Sophia King wasn't thinking about seeking Emanuel's appointment to the 4th Ward seat when former Ald. Will Burns stepped down earlier this year, but friends and neighbors convinced her to apply.
"A number of my neighbors texted me, called me, and asked me would I consider? My first response was no, but they said 'Just talk to some people. Listen. You know, you've been serving the community for over 30 years,'" she said.
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King is founder and president of Harriet's Daughters, a non-profit focused on finding jobs for African Americans. She and her husband are friends of President Barack Obama.
"I'm happy to be associated with him, but we knew him way before he was the president. We knew him before he was even in the state Senate," she said.
News of her appointment came so late on Monday some aldermen said they want to meet her before a confirmation vote, so a Rules Committee hearing has been put off until Wednesday morning, just before a meeting of the full City Council.
