Stamford Election 2021 Profile: Caroline Simmons For Mayor

STAMFORD, CT — Election Day on Nov. 2 is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot in Stamford.

Patch reached out to candidates for local office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing the city.

Democrat Caroline Simmons, 35, is running for Mayor of Stamford.

Occupation: State Representative

Family: Art Linares, Teddy Linares, Jack Linares

Experience: State Representative of Connecticut’s 144th District

Family in government: Yes, Nick Simmons, Senior Advisor to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.

The single biggest issue in town is ______, and I plan to do this about it:

In all that we do we must always consider how policies can make our city more affordable and continue to improve the quality of life that Stamford residents have come to expect.

One key issue that I intend to address as Mayor is investing in our infrastructure. Our roads and bridges are in disrepair, our public transit needs to be revitalized, and we still need a comprehensive vision for our train station. Our schools’ buildings have needed renewed investment for decades, especially after the mold crisis was revealed three years ago.

We need to engage all stakeholders and begin to deal with these long-standing issues that have persisted multiple administrations. As the only proven leader in this race that has actually followed through on my commitments in government, I am prepared to address these challenges.

As a former employee of the Department of Homeland Security and current State Representative, I am the only candidate who has experience seeing how state and federal grants are given to local municipalities.

With the federal infrastructure package, and Governor Lamont’s interest in infrastructure projects, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to finally get these projects done. I know how the system works and as Mayor I will make the system work for Stamford.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

I was speaking to students at Westhill High School recently and one student asked why I would choose to run for Mayor instead of continuing my work on the state or federal level. While I loved my work at the Department of Homeland Security, my service as State Representative gave me an incredible opportunity to listen to constituents and seek opportunities to address issues they cared about.

But the more I heard from constituents, the more I realized the incredible opportunity to impact their lives through serving as Mayor. I am running for mayor to make more of a difference for my community.

This pandemic has reminded us what’s important in life. From recognizing the incredible sacrifice and service performed by essential workers, to the important role our government can play in keeping us safe and healthy. I am invested in the future of Stamford because this is where my family is and where my sons will grow up, and I see it as an obligation to do as much good as I can for this community.

Stamford has changed a lot in the past few decades. We’re the second largest city and the most diverse in Connecticut. I’ve heard from so many residents who feel frustrated they don’t have a relationship with the mayor’s office. Our city has changed, and our leadership needs to change to someone who’s willing to embrace what Stamford has become instead of holding onto the past.

By bringing a fresh perspective to Government Center, I hope to be that leader for the young families, new residents, and recent immigrants of our city.

Accomplishments:

As State Representative for Connecticut’s 144th District, I secured over $300 million in state funding for Stamford, including $65 million for the Strawberry Hill School. I’ve gotten state and federal grants to work for Stamford in the past and I will accomplish even more as Mayor.

I also served as co-chair of the Commerce Committee and passed over 16 bipartisan bills providing aid for small businesses — including making capital more accessible for women, minority, and veteran-owned businesses.

In my role as an elected official, I’ve always pursued nonpartisan solutions. I believe this is why I’ve been endorsed by the Independent Party, members of the Stamford delegation, and other statewide legislators.

Through my experience in working with local and state governments during my tenure at the Department of Homeland Security, I understand the vital role government leaders serve to keep communities safe. I believe this contributed to why I was awarded the 2015 Legislator of the Year Award by the Connecticut State Police.

Other issues:

My goal as Stamford’s next mayor is for our city to realize its potential and make it one of the best cities in America. To do this I am pursuing four major priorities.

First, I will address the affordability crisis affecting all our residents. We know whether you’re a recent graduate, new family looking to purchase a home, or a senior who’s lived here for decades affordability is an issue.

As a State Representative, I advocated for rent relief for renters and landlords. I will continue to pursue this relief for all our residents. I will also pursue making homeownership more affordable by assisting fire-time homeowners with down payments and reviewing our Property Tax Relief program to combine the greatest need with the greatest benefit.

And most importantly, I know what it takes to keep property taxes down: we need to continue to grow our economy and we need to continue to seek new sources of revenue – those are tried and true steps to actually lessen our tax burden.

Second, I am committed to rebuilding our schools. They’ve needed repairs for over a decade, and they need a champion who understands our system of state and federal grants to bring money to Stamford for these ambitious projects.

We need a Mayor who can rebuild our school buildings without overburdening local taxpayers. As a State Representative, I secured over $65 million in state funding to build Strawberry Hill School and I’ll do the same for all of Stamford’s schools.

Third, I’ll pursue the big infrastructure projects Stamford has needed for years. The federal infrastructure package provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take advantage of the more than $5.3 billion in federal dollars coming to Connecticut.

With this money we can build a modern transportation center, pave all our roads, establish a dedicated sidewalk fund, and ensure our infrastructure is more sustainable to the challenges of climate change.

We saw with the flooding from Hurricane Ida our city’s infrastructure can be improved to prevent damage to our residents’ homes.

Finally, I will be a mayor who listens and responds to the residents of Stamford. I’ve had so many constituents reach out to me because they can’t get a response from the city.

I am committed to making our government more responsive to constituent concerns. I will support our Citizen Services department and hold regular town halls to ensure every voice in every neighborhood is heard and respected.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I believe in the potential of our city and the future of Stamford. Our community has persevered many challenges throughout this pandemic, and I believe we are at a pivotal moment in our community. Our friends and neighbors are returning to our everyday lives, and we’ve all recognized how important our community has been during these challenging times.

I’ve been so inspired by the dedication and commitment of our first responders, community leaders, and everyday residents who’ve looked out for one another throughout this pandemic. I want to be the mayor that galvanizes our community’s renewed commitment to civil service and reach for the potential of our city.