Family photographs stretching from the ceiling to the floor cover the hallway leading to the kitchen. Boomer, a golden Labrador, prods the lady seated in jeans and a gray turtleneck.

After redistricting of Evanston’s nine wards took effect last summer, this unassuming lady now represents the majority of Northwestern students who live on campus.

Ald. Elizabeth Tisdahl (7th) represents about 550 students who previously lived in the First Ward. Her ward includes all of the dormitories east of Sheridan Road, Jones Residential College, 1835 Hinman Ave., as well as the northeast area of Evanston.

“There are enough students in the Seventh Ward that if they wanted to be a force in an aldermanic election, they could be,” Tisdahl, 58, said.

Students only will need to wait until April to have a say in the next municipal elections. All nine City Council positions, along with the mayor, are up for election. Tisdahl said she intends to run.

“I tend to think we can work things out,” she said. “I guess I do have a na