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Sophia King, Friend To Obamas, Confirmed As 4th Ward Alderman

By Ted Cox | April 13, 2016 10:24am | Updated on April 13, 2016 10:36am
 Ald. Margaret Laurino meets Sophia King before her confirmation hearing.
Ald. Margaret Laurino meets Sophia King before her confirmation hearing.
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DNAinfo/Ted Cox

CITY HALL — Sophia King, a leading South Side public-service leader and longtime friend of President Barack Obama, was confirmed by the City Council as 4th Ward alderman Wednesday.

Appointed this week by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, King replaces Will Burns, who stepped down in February to take a position with Airbnb.

"I am honored and humbled to be here," King said at her confirmation hearing with the Rules Committee before Wednesday's City Council meeting.

Ald. Michelle Harris (8th), chairman of the Rules Committee, said she was "thrilled and honored for her to be my colleague."

"I'm certain the mayor made a great appointment," said Ald. Nicholas Sposato (38th).

King was formally confirmed as 4th Ward alderman without opposition at the start of Wednesday's Council meeting.

"The secret to success in this job is to always make sure people come first," advised Ald. Leslie Hairston (5th).

Although King and her husband, attorney Alan King, have been friends with the Obamas since before the president was in the state Senate, she insisted it was not her friends in high places that got her the post, but "I sent myself."

King's family including her daughters was in attendance for her to be sworn in at the beginning of Wednesday's Council meeting, prompting Ald. Edward Burke (14th) to say, "I've got a 20-year-old son at home who would love to get an introduction to those two beautiful girls."

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