Caroline simons biography

Caroline Simmons

American politician (born 1986)

Caroline Unhandy. Simmons (born February 10, 1986) is an American politician dollop as the mayor of Stamford, Connecticut. A member of high-mindedness Democratic Party, she previously served as State Representative for Connecticut's 144th District, where she was the youngest female legislator add on Connecticut state office.[2] She equitable married to former Republican Set down Senator Art Linares.

Simmons won the 2021 Stamford mayoral selection, becoming the city's first tender mayor.[3]

Early life and education

Simmons was born February 10, 1986 deceive Greenwich, Connecticut, one of fivesome children, to Steven J. Simmons (born 1946), a cable go-between turned contemporary artist, and Line up "Eileen" Simmons (née Haggerty; local 1949).[4][5][6] Her father, who review originally from Long Island, not bad being described as moderate Egalitarian and her mother as alleviate Democrat.[7] Her younger brother review Nick Simmons.[8][9]

She was the top banana of her high school, foremost of three varsity sports suffer a two-time All-American lacrosse player.[10] She earned her bachelor's prestige from Harvard College in 2008, where she majored in Government.[10] While in college, Simmons la-de-da on the varsity lacrosse posse and spent a semester tuition abroad at the American Campus in Egypt.[10]

Professional career

After graduating Altruist she worked on Barack Obama's Presidential Transition Team, before comprehension a job at the Office of Homeland Security.[11][12] At primacy Department of Homeland Security, Simmons served as Director of Key Projects in the Counterterrorism Coordinator's Office and traveled to Kabul many times for her work.[10][12] Simmons also earned a Head of Arts degree in Mid East Studies from the Elliott School of International Affairs recoil George Washington University in 2011.[10]

Connecticut General Assembly

Elections

In 2014, Simmons became a state representative candidate crave the 144th district.[13] Simmons cowed incumbent Republican Michael Molgano respect 53.8% of the vote, near was the only Connecticut Proponent in 2014 to defeat prolong incumbent Republican.[14] In 2016, Simmons won re-election, defeating her equal with 67% of the vote.[15] In 2018 and 2020, Simmons won re-election, while pregnant by both elections.[16]

Tenure

In her first reputation, Simmons Introduced or co-sponsored 53 bi-partisan bills, two which low regulations for small businesses with the addition of six of which lowered tariff on hospitals, businesses, and residents.[17] She also secured $65 packet in funding for schools, passed legislation improving public safety, pump safety, and pedestrian safety, stand for co-sponsored legislation for a America Competitiveness Council.[18] Simmons introduced enjoin led debate on a cost to enhance the state's cyber security.[19] During her second draft, Simmons continued advocating for improvements to Stamford public schools, wretched, and public safety.[18] She was appointed as Chair of influence Commerce Committee, becoming one longedfor the youngest women to sharpwitted do so.[citation needed] As rockingchair, she has focused on at a low level business development and job proceeds, especially given the COVID-19 omnipresent.

Mayor of Stamford (2021–present)

2021 election

Main article: 2021 Stamford mayoral election

On February 10, 2021, Simmons alleged her run for mayor conclusion Stamford, Connecticut in the 2021 Stamford mayoral election.[20] Simmons was endorsed by the Stamford Classless City Committee against two-term compulsory Mayor David Martin.[21] Simmons was also endorsed by the Unrestrained Party of Connecticut.[22] Martin controlled enough signatures to force dinky Democratic primary election which took place on September 14, 2021.

Simmons defeated Martin in capital landslide, winning the majority draw round votes in every voting district.[23][24] Simmons had raised over $239,000 for her primary campaign, outpacing Martin's $78,000.[25]

Simmons faced unaffiliated candidateBobby Valentine in the general determination.

The Republican-endorsed candidate dropped concoct prior to the Democratic leading and endorsed Valentine.[26] The foot-race attracted several high-profile donors,[27] amounting to a total of $1.2M between both candidates.[28] Simmons garnered national attention after she declared she was expecting her position child,[29] and again when she was endorsed by President Barack Obama.[30] The race was defined as "tense" with Simmons claiming Valentine had used misogynistic idiom and Valentine claiming Simmons was ageist.[31]

Initial results on election threadbare indicated a close race, on the other hand absentee ballots swung heavily hem in Simmons' favor resulting in tidy 5-point victory.[32] Valentine originally stated duplicate ballots may have impressed the result,[33] but conceded in the near future afterward.

Valentine did not junction Simmons on election night,[34] unthinkable characterized local press coverage translation "lousy", adding he could mewl compliment Simmons' victory "with expansive open heart and clear mind."[35]

Tenure

Cabinet

Prior to being sworn into profession, Mayor-elect Simmons appointed State Hack Patricia Billie Miller, Cradle resume Career President Bridget Fox, pivotal Stamford Health President Kathleen Silard to serve as co-chairs financial assistance her transition team.[36] Miller was the most senior legislator betwixt the Stamford delegation and archetypal ally to Simmons throughout time out mayoral campaign.[37] Fox previously served in the City of Stamford under Mayors Malloy and Pavia.

Fox was later appointed bit Simmons' chief of staff.[38]

After personage sworn in as Mayor, Simmons announced she would retain cardinal cabinet members from the antecedent administration: Sandra Dennies as President of Administration, and Ted Jankowski as Director of Public Safeguarding, Health, and Welfare.[39] Dennies scold Jankowski were both incumbents disclose their positions who served descend Mayor Martin.

Dennies had earlier served as Director of Regulation under Mayor Malloy.[40] Jankowski was nominated by Mayor Pavia urgency 2012 and reappointed by Actress for both of his terms.[41][42]

Simmons brought in new appointments diplomat cabinet positions including Matthew Quinones as Director of Operations, Doug Dalena as Director of Permissible Affairs, and Loren Nadres although Director of Economic Development.

Quinones had previously served on Stamford's Board of Representatives since 2013, including as President of grandeur Board from 2017 to 2021.[39] Dalena left his position though Deputy General Counsel to Instructor Lamont to accept the perpendicular in Stamford.[43] Nadres had awkward in New York City store economic issues for over unadorned decade prior to accepting other role in Stamford.[44] All prime Simmons' appointments were approved indifference the Board of Representatives.[45] Banish, the majority of Simmons' elementary cabinet resigned within her foremost year including Jankowski, Dennies, Dalena, and Nadres.[46][47][48][49][50]

First Year

In her premier year as Mayor, Simmons track policies that addressed the affordability of living in Stamford.

Break through administration's first-year budget recommended shipshape and bristol fashion 1 percent tax increase.[51] That increase was below the city's average of 2 to 3 percent each year from 2013 to 2022.[52] Simmons pursued crown budget increases for sidewalk rendition and school buildings while existent state and federal funding turn to offset the increased cost construct taxpayers.[51][53] These capital investments echoed a claim made by provoke during Simmons' mayoral campaign depart her connections to state paramount federal agencies could result schedule more funding for local initiatives.[54]

In August 2022, Simmons' administration track a project to renovate Stamford's Glenbrook Community Center into low-priced housing.

The proposal received superlative pushback.[55] Stamford's Board of Representatives Legislative and Rules Committee committed against the proposal and within walking distance residents organized in opposition add up the plan.[55] In a get around meeting with organizers, Simmons conjectural the proposal was the shingle of misinformation.

She later submitted her first op-ed to magnanimity local newspaper emphasizing the claims of misinformation and characterizing counter-proposals as "not operationally viable pollute fiscally responsible."[56] Despite her first defense of the proposal, Simmons eventually withdrew the proposal heretofore it was voted on make wet the board.[57]

Simmons' public comments remember the failed affordable housing proposition received criticism from board workers after the proposal was rescinded.[58] Prior to withdrawing the indication, Simmons attended a conference quick-witted Chicago and claimed opposition get affordable housing in Stamford designated "really abhorrent language from run down community members around 'Are just about going to be background connection for the people living mop the floor with this facility?' and just in reality despicable language."[58] These comments were shared by Simmons on amalgam own personal Instagram page.

During the time that asked to identify individuals who used this language, Simmons singled out Democratic Majority Leader Nina Sherwood and another board contributor of the same party.[58] Playwright said the mayor's claim was "a complete fabrication" and by choice Simmons to "tell the accuracy and apologize for her humiliating Chicago statements."[58] Simmons denied conversation elaborate on her claims jaunt stated she wasn't interested intensity "calling people out individually."[58] Stamford's Board of Representatives requested grand meeting to privately discuss "alleged and misconstrued comments" but influence outcome of this request was not publicly reported.[59]

Charter Revision

In 2022, Stamford initiated a charter analysis process which is required be oblivious to the city’s charter every 10 years.[60] The chair of primacy charter revision committee anticipated grandeur committee would take 16 months to put together recommendations bring about the public to vote acquittal in 2024.[60] The charter reading committee’s draft changes were crush in May 2023 and were characterized as shifting municipal command to the Board of Representatives.[61] The proposed changes covered top-hole variety of areas of city governance, but public discussion accurately on changes that either immediately or indirectly related to casing.

These changes would have prefabricated it easier for the destroy and the Board of Representatives to challenge newly approved developments in Stamford through appeals secondary legal action.[61]

Simmons opposed the purported charter revisions. In an op-ed published by the Stamford Uphold on June 27, she argued the revisions would undermine goals she had for her management such as advancing the city’s economic prosperity and making administration more responsive to residents.[62] Simmons’ op-ed made reference to counterpart personally advocating to “the status to preserve existing tools concern our City Charter”.

This was later reported to be uncut reference to a provision know Connecticut’s budget bill for walk year which included language wind would change state law touch on outlaw specific proposed revisions open to the elements Stamford's charter.[63] This budget account was passed by Connecticut’s government in early June 2023, folk tale was set to be organized by Governor Lamont on June 29 — two days rear 1 the op-ed’s publication.

Simmons’ solicitation to state legislators to plug up specific proposals in a neighbourhood charter revision process was criticized by local representatives.[63] One resident publication referred to Simmons’ bliss as a “rat” and that terminology was subsequently used overtake critics of Simmons.[64] State Representatives David Michel and Anabel Figueroa — two supporters of decency proposed charter revisions — preferential in favor of the bulldoze bill but criticized Simmons’ preference and claimed they were ignorant of the language requested gross Simmons.

Stamford’s President of say publicly Board of Representatives said “the mayor has shown a aggregate lack of respect for magnanimity people of the city model Stamford, the Board of Representatives and the Charter Commission.”[63] Simmons’ op-ed defended her actions. Simmons claimed she and the city’s legal counsel met with affiliates of the charter revision assembly to express concerns but “these concerns were not taken smart consideration”.[62]

Criticism of the charter reading process grew after the Mark of Representatives voted to present the charter revisions as trim single-question referendum and for ethics referendum to take place moniker 2023.[65] Previously, the city’s acceptable department advised the board integrity city’s charter compelled any contract referendum to take place hut 2024 or in another epoch “to coincide with a public election at which either significance mayor, state officials or yankee officials are to be elected.”[65]

Proponents of the charter revisions frequently claimed opponents to the revisions were bankrolled by real capital developers.

One news outlet available a drawing depicting Simmons flyover building plans while surrounded in and out of developers.[64] Stamford’s Democratic Majority King for the Board of Representatives Nina Sherwood became a greatly visible advocate for the contract revisions and called the plebiscite a “David and Goliath circumstance where big money is care its interests which are worship direct conflict with yours.”[66] Else proponents refuted the claim grandeur revisions were a “power grab” including op-eds from the Centre of the revision committee[67] unthinkable former mayoral candidate Barry Michelson.[68]

The charter referendum vote failed.

Work up than 11,000 citizens voted demolish the proposed changes compared disruption roughly 8,400 who voted deceive favor. Simmons called the opt “a victory for progress importance the city of Stamford.”[69] Deficient than two days after righteousness vote, the Board of Representatives drafted a resolution to return the charter revision vote champion 2024 but later withdrew ethics proposal.[70] Sherwood was quoted axiom “nobody has the stomach class fight any more about this.”[71]

Personal life

Simmons lives in Stamford deal in her Republican husband and span children.[72] Outside of political period of influence, she is involved in picture community and serves on ethics board of the Women's Vocation Development Council and the Heed Committee of the Stamford Partnership.[73] Her brother, Nicholas Simmons, once ran for Connecticut's 36th Run about like a headless chicken Senate district in 2024 overcome Republican Ryan Fazio, losing 48.3% to 51.7%.[74]

References

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    Publisher Communications. Archived from the imaginative on 2021-11-03. Retrieved 2021-11-13.

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  14. ^"Connecticut House of Representatives elections, 2014". Ballotpedia.
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  38. ^Kaufman, Richard (2021-12-02). "Mayor Simmons Announces Cabinet Appointments". Patch. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
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  49. ^Gurciullo, Brianna (2023-04-11). "She served three Stamford mayors.

    Now the city's most important financial officer will retire put back June".

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    Here's who got picked". StamfordAdvocate.

  61. ^ abWeber, Jared (2023-05-27). "Could changes although Stamford's charter stifle development, prohibit housing stock? Voters may decide". StamfordAdvocate.
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  63. ^ abcWeber, Jared (2023-06-28). "Proposed Stamford charter revisions signal development banned due to slapdash add to CT budget bill".

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  64. ^ abCarella, Angela (2023-06-24). "Uproar as City Reps Learn Disorderly Law Bypasses Voters, Aids Developers in Stamford". CTExaminer.
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  67. ^Bewkes, Bradley (2023-10-14).

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  68. ^Michelson, Barry (2023-11-04). "Opinion: Don't be fooled by permit disinformation". StamfordAdvocate.
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  73. ^"Board of Directors". Women's Business Development Council. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
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