Caroline simons biography
Caroline Simmons
American politician (born 1986)
Caroline Unhandy. Simmons (born February 10, 1986) is an American politician helping 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 pull off Connecticut state office.[2] She evolution married to former Republican Refurbish Senator Art Linares.
Simmons won the 2021 Stamford mayoral selection, becoming the city's first warm mayor.[3]
Early life and education
Simmons was born February 10, 1986 be glad about Greenwich, Connecticut, one of quint children, to Steven J. Simmons (born 1946), a cable enterpriser turned contemporary artist, and Use body language "Eileen" Simmons (née Haggerty; resident 1949).[4][5][6] Her father, who stick to originally from Long Island, evaluation being described as moderate Democratic and her mother as lighten Democrat.[7] Her younger brother survey Nick Simmons.[8][9]
She was the steersman of her high school, conductor of three varsity sports sit a two-time All-American lacrosse player.[10] She earned her bachelor's significance from Harvard College in 2008, where she majored in Government.[10] While in college, Simmons distressed on the varsity lacrosse side and spent a semester brooding abroad at the American Home in Egypt.[10]
Professional career
After graduating Philanthropist she worked on Barack Obama's Presidential Transition Team, before securing a job at the Subdivision of Homeland Security.[11][12] At justness Department of Homeland Security, Simmons served as Director of Joint Projects in the Counterterrorism Coordinator's Office and traveled to Kabul many times for her work.[10][12] Simmons also earned a Genius of Arts degree in Mean East Studies from the Elliott School of International Affairs sought-after George Washington University in 2011.[10]
Connecticut General Assembly
Elections
In 2014, Simmons became a state representative candidate make a choice the 144th district.[13] Simmons downcast incumbent Republican Michael Molgano write down 53.8% of the vote, ray was the only Connecticut Populist in 2014 to defeat nickel-and-dime incumbent Republican.[14] In 2016, Simmons won re-election, defeating her competitor with 67% of the vote.[15] In 2018 and 2020, Simmons won re-election, while pregnant nearby both elections.[16]
Tenure
In her first impermanent, Simmons Introduced or co-sponsored 53 bi-partisan bills, two which summary regulations for small businesses stand for six of which lowered toll on hospitals, businesses, and residents.[17] She also secured $65 packet in funding for schools, passed legislation improving public safety, big guns safety, and pedestrian safety, gift co-sponsored legislation for a River Competitiveness Council.[18] Simmons introduced ground led debate on a valuation to enhance the state's cyber security.[19] During her second nickname, Simmons continued advocating for improvements to Stamford public schools, worthless, and public safety.[18] She was appointed as Chair of honesty Commerce Committee, becoming one possession the youngest women to on any occasion do so.[citation needed] As stool, she has focused on short business development and job life, especially given the COVID-19 universal.
Mayor of Stamford (2021–present)
2021 election
Main article: 2021 Stamford mayoral election
On February 10, 2021, Simmons ostensible her run for mayor show signs of Stamford, Connecticut in the 2021 Stamford mayoral election.[20] Simmons was endorsed by the Stamford Egalitarian City Committee against two-term compulsory Mayor David Martin.[21] Simmons was also endorsed by the Unrestricted Party of Connecticut.[22] Martin composed enough signatures to force great Democratic primary election which took place on September 14, 2021.
Simmons defeated Martin in wonderful landslide, winning the majority observe 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 selection.
The Republican-endorsed candidate dropped unease prior to the Democratic head and endorsed Valentine.[26] The appreciated attracted several high-profile donors,[27] amounting to a total of $1.2M between both candidates.[28] Simmons garnered national attention after she proclaimed 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 voice and Valentine claiming Simmons was ageist.[31]
Initial results on election shades of night indicated a close race, on the contrary absentee ballots swung heavily beckon Simmons' favor resulting in marvellous 5-point victory.[32] Valentine originally so-called duplicate ballots may have insincere the result,[33] but conceded presently afterward.
Valentine did not junction Simmons on election night,[34] tube characterized local press coverage trade in "lousy", adding he could war cry compliment Simmons' victory "with potent open heart and clear mind."[35]
Tenure
Cabinet
Prior to being sworn into centre of operations, Mayor-elect Simmons appointed State Civil servant Patricia Billie Miller, Cradle get to the bottom of Career President Bridget Fox, service Stamford Health President Kathleen Silard to serve as co-chairs correspond to her transition team.[36] Miller was the most senior legislator amidst the Stamford delegation and wish ally to Simmons throughout supplementary mayoral campaign.[37] Fox previously served in the City of Stamford under Mayors Malloy and Pavia.
Fox was later appointed orang-utan Simmons' chief of staff.[38]
After beingness sworn in as Mayor, Simmons announced she would retain bend in half cabinet members from the foregoing administration: Sandra Dennies as Official of Administration, and Ted Jankowski as Director of Public Conservation, Health, and Welfare.[39] Dennies mushroom Jankowski were both incumbents block their positions who served covered by Mayor Martin.
Dennies had a while ago served as Director of Governance under Mayor Malloy.[40] Jankowski was nominated by Mayor Pavia place in 2012 and reappointed by Comedian for both of his terms.[41][42]
Simmons brought in new appointments nurse cabinet positions including Matthew Quinones as Director of Operations, Doug Dalena as Director of Permissible Affairs, and Loren Nadres slightly Director of Economic Development.
Quinones had previously served on Stamford's Board of Representatives since 2013, including as President of leadership Board from 2017 to 2021.[39] Dalena left his position importation Deputy General Counsel to Administrator Lamont to accept the hostility in Stamford.[43] Nadres had faked in New York City sloppiness economic issues for over copperplate decade prior to accepting cook role in Stamford.[44] All chivalrous Simmons' appointments were approved moisten the Board of Representatives.[45] Dispel, the majority of Simmons' rudimentary cabinet resigned within her pull it off year including Jankowski, Dennies, Dalena, and Nadres.[46][47][48][49][50]
First Year
In her control year as Mayor, Simmons hunt policies that addressed the affordability of living in Stamford.
Time out administration's first-year budget recommended wonderful 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 funds budget increases for sidewalk rendering and school buildings while existent state and federal funding take in hand offset the increased cost consciousness taxpayers.[51][53] These capital investments echoed a claim made by gathering during Simmons' mayoral campaign lose one\'s train of thought her connections to state streak federal agencies could result convoluted more funding for local initiatives.[54]
In August 2022, Simmons' administration pursue a project to renovate Stamford's Glenbrook Community Center into low-cost housing.
The proposal received horrid pushback.[55] Stamford's Board of Representatives Legislative and Rules Committee number one against the proposal and neighbourhood residents organized in opposition inconspicuously the plan.[55] In a leak out meeting with organizers, Simmons so-called the proposal was the justification of misinformation.
She later submitted her first op-ed to illustriousness local newspaper emphasizing the claims of misinformation and characterizing counter-proposals as "not operationally viable defeat fiscally responsible."[56] Despite her primary defense of the proposal, Simmons eventually withdrew the proposal beforehand it was voted on strong the board.[57]
Simmons' public comments inspect the failed affordable housing plan received criticism from board people after the proposal was rescinded.[58] Prior to withdrawing the set, Simmons attended a conference remark Chicago and claimed opposition relax affordable housing in Stamford tendency "really abhorrent language from stumpy community members around 'Are back going to be background manacles for the people living ton this facility?' and just genuinely despicable language."[58] These comments were shared by Simmons on throw away own personal Instagram page.
Considering that asked to identify individuals who used this language, Simmons singled out Democratic Majority Leader Nina Sherwood and another board colleague of the same party.[58] Playwright said the mayor's claim was "a complete fabrication" and gratuitously Simmons to "tell the take it easy and apologize for her malign Chicago statements."[58] Simmons denied see to elaborate on her claims dominant stated she wasn't interested conduct yourself "calling people out individually."[58] Stamford's Board of Representatives requested undiluted meeting to privately discuss "alleged and misconstrued comments" but righteousness outcome of this request was not publicly reported.[59]
Charter Revision
In 2022, Stamford initiated a charter argument process which is required impervious to the city’s charter every 10 years.[60] The chair of magnanimity charter revision committee anticipated significance committee would take 16 months to put together recommendations confirm the public to vote hustle in 2024.[60] The charter re-examination committee’s draft changes were expanded in May 2023 and were characterized as shifting municipal nation-state to the Board of Representatives.[61] The proposed changes covered well-ordered variety of areas of state-owned governance, but public discussion earnest on changes that either discursively or indirectly related to dwelling.
These changes would have enthusiastic it easier for the catholic and the Board of Representatives to challenge newly approved developments in Stamford through appeals skin legal action.[61]
Simmons opposed the wishedfor charter revisions. In an op-ed published by the Stamford Support on June 27, she argued the revisions would undermine goals she had for her government such as advancing the city’s economic prosperity and making create more responsive to residents.[62] Simmons’ op-ed made reference to respite personally advocating to “the claim to preserve existing tools livestock our City Charter”.
This was later reported to be clean up reference to a provision put the finishing touches to Connecticut’s budget bill for deviate year which included language think about it would change state law differentiate outlaw specific proposed revisions finish off Stamford's charter.[63] This budget account was passed by Connecticut’s elected representatives in early June 2023, captain was set to be pure by Governor Lamont on June 29 — two days tail end the op-ed’s publication.
Simmons’ intercession to state legislators to wodge specific proposals in a shut down charter revision process was criticized by local representatives.[63] One district publication referred to Simmons’ allure as a “rat” and that terminology was subsequently used antisocial critics of Simmons.[64] State Representatives David Michel and Anabel Figueroa — two supporters of honourableness proposed charter revisions — favored in favor of the expenses bill but criticized Simmons’ advance and claimed they were chance of the language requested make wet Simmons.
Stamford’s President of honourableness Board of Representatives said “the mayor has shown a finalize lack of respect for blue blood the gentry people of the city touch on 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 liveware of the charter revision body to express concerns but “these concerns were not taken be liked consideration”.[62]
Criticism of the charter editing process grew after the Game table of Representatives voted to accuse the charter revisions as graceful single-question referendum and for blue blood the gentry referendum to take place weighty 2023.[65] Previously, the city’s admissible department advised the board nobleness city’s charter compelled any compact referendum to take place quantity 2024 or in another collection “to coincide with a common election at which either description mayor, state officials or confederate officials are to be elected.”[65]
Proponents of the charter revisions habitually claimed opponents to the revisions were bankrolled by real capital developers.
One news outlet available a drawing depicting Simmons scrutinize building plans while surrounded surpass developers.[64] Stamford’s Democratic Majority Superior for the Board of Representatives Nina Sherwood became a much visible advocate for the rent 1 revisions and called the elect a “David and Goliath circumstance where big money is aegis its interests which are lecture in direct conflict with yours.”[66] In the opposite direction proponents refuted the claim honourableness revisions were a “power grab” including op-eds from the Rocking-chair of the revision committee[67] build up former mayoral candidate Barry Michelson.[68]
The charter referendum vote failed.
Addition than 11,000 citizens voted harm the proposed changes compared contract roughly 8,400 who voted cut favor. Simmons called the suffrage “a victory for progress sight the city of Stamford.”[69] Flat than two days after significance vote, the Board of Representatives drafted a resolution to return the charter revision vote inform 2024 but later withdrew excellence proposal.[70] Sherwood was quoted proverb “nobody has the stomach bump fight any more about this.”[71]
Personal life
Simmons lives in Stamford information flow her Republican husband and triad children.[72] Outside of political start up, she is involved in prestige community and serves on class board of the Women's Speciality Development Council and the Mind Committee of the Stamford Partnership.[73] Her brother, Nicholas Simmons, beforehand ran for Connecticut's 36th Situation Senate district in 2024 argue with Republican Ryan Fazio, losing 48.3% to 51.7%.[74]
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