Candidate Profile: Carla Simpson for Suffolk County Legislature

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Suffolk County residents will be lining up at the polls for Election Day on Nov. 2, where they will be voting for candidates vying for Suffolk County Legislature seats.

Community leader Carla Simpson is running as a Democrat in the 10th Legislative District against Republican candidate Councilwoman Trish Bergin.

Tom Cimli, the current legislator for the district, will not be running again due to term limits. He has held the position since 2009.

The 10th Legislative District is comprised of East Islip, Bay Shore, Islip, Great River, Oakdale, Bohemia, Ronkonkoma, Central Islip, Islandia, and Hauppauge.

Patch reached out to both candidates to hear where they stand on important issues affecting the community.

Here are the responses for those who participated. The answers have been lightly edited for clarity.

Carla E Simpson

<b>Age (as of Election Day)</b>

39

<b>Position Sought</b>

Suffolk County Legislature District 10

<b>Party Affiliation</b>

Democrat

<b>Family</b>

Daughter Ava, age 9

<b>Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?</b>

N/A

<b>Education</b>

Dartmouth College (Bachelors), Columbia Business School (MBA)

<b>Occupation</b>

Commercial real estate finance and investment (20 years)

<b>Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office</b>

N/A

<b>Campaign website</b>

www.simpsonforsuffolk.com

<b>Why are you seeking elective office?</b>

My name is Carla Elaina Simpson. I am of Jamaican, Cuban and Panamanian descent. My parents left Brooklyn, NY to raise me and my three siblings in Hauppauge over 30 years ago. My parents and grandmother raised me — and my grandmother, an immigrant without a high school diploma is responsible for my education. I left Hauppauge to attend Dartmouth College. As the first member of my family to graduate college, I worked in New York City for seven years post-graduation in various finance capacities. I also started my company during those seven years in NYC — Heights Realty Investment Group. In July of 2012, I returned to Long Island and shortly thereafter gave birth to my daughter, Ava, while attending business school. In 2013, I graduated top of my class from Columbia University's Graduate School of Business with emphasis on leadership, finance, social entrepreneurship and real estate.

I am seeking the privilege of public office, specifically legislator for District 10, to be a fresh voice to elevate the community. I firmly believe in good governance and the power of government to improve communities. I know that the best way to solve problems is to bring everyone to the table and bring people together around community-oriented solutions. I will make sure that government is an inclusive place where all voices, especially those historically unheard in government, are represented. In the words of Shirley Chisholm, 'If you are not given a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.'

I also believe I am the best candidate for this position because of my business background as well as my volunteer community work for a number of organizations specifically with legislative agendas. I am running for this position because District 10 is my home and I bring a fresh, new perspective with a wide range of personal and professional experiences that will contribute greatly to the growth of our district. I am an ambassador, a champion, a connector, an advocate and I will serve with civic pride to all constituents of this district.

I serve on the board of a number of community organizations with dedication, integrity and what I like to call my whole heart. While I was the regional vice president of underwriting and portfolio management for a commercial bank, managing over $100B in a commercial real estate budget, I’ve stepped down from this position to focus entirely on the opportunity to serve as Suffolk County Legislator District 10. Our district needs people who are committed to working as a team to bring a vision to life in this district. We must represent all the residents of District 10 and not just special interest groups. District 10 residents deserve to have their voices heard and be represented by leaders who are seasoned in their community, as well as sensitive to all issues.

<b>The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.</b>

Housing has been a hot button issue for Long Island and this district since I was in elementary school. Most recently, I believe the pandemic and Newsday's multi-year investigation has brought to the surface other aspects of the housing issue that only highlight that this issue is multifaceted. Generally, urban developments are not right for our family-first suburban communities on Long Island and our leaders must stand up to preserve and protect their unique character.

While I am a commercial real estate professional with 20 years’ experience in the industry, I am a proponent of protecting the community and if we must develop, doing so while prioritizing the residents and surrounding communities. Residents in Suffolk County feel ignored by elected leaders, and fear donations and personal relationships with those seeking to overdevelop our communities have clouded their judgment.

In addition to working in the industry, I serve as an executive board member at the Long Island Housing Partnership, Urban League Long Island and Central Islip Civic Council and as housing chair for the Islip Town NAACP. Through my career and volunteerism, I have gained a deep understanding of housing as an issue in our community and how best to meet the concerns and needs of the district in crafting housing policy and solutions and protecting our labor workers and families.

In serving as the secretary for the Azurest Property Owners Association, a culturally designated historic community on the East End, I’ve also garnered experience in fighting to preserve a community’s character and history and stopping overdevelopment. I intend to create policy that requires more structure and accountability on the part of the developers — they must work with local unions, they must hold a required number of town halls at various times of day, they must have green environmentally friendly components, they must receive formal approval from a list of community-led organizations before presenting their plan to town officials and they must include affordable, aging, veterans housing into perpetuity.

<b>What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?</b>

Honestly, the biggest part of what separates me from my opponent is the nature of our motivations. Unfortunately, I think the other side is motivated by the office itself and desire to win the seat, whereas I am solely in this because of what the seat will allow me to do for my community, family, friends, and neighbors. That’s my motivation, full stop.

Unfortunately, the track record of my opponent has me question what she hopes to accomplish — to protect our district or protect her office? Of course, as I’ve been speaking about for months, there are very real policy differences between us, like my focus on fighting overdevelopment, improving local support services for young families, and protecting open spaces for generations to come. I don’t see those critical policy elements anywhere near the forefront of my opponent’s agenda, which I find concerning and a symptom of being disconnected from the realities facing District 10 and our county as a whole.

However, our policy distinctions are simply an outcome of the larger narrative that separates us. I’m in this race so that I can continue to be the voice of my community at a higher level of government and elevate the work of representing and advocating for the place I call home. The truth is, win or lose this election, that drive in me will never stop. Others, I fear, are more motivated by their personal ambitions and desire for political power, which has absolutely no place in local government.

<b>If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)</b>

District 10 needs leaders with innovation, perspective and wisdom who are committed to working as a team to bring a vision to life in this district. We must represent all the residents of District 10 and not just special interest groups. District 10 residents deserve to have their voices heard and be represented by leaders who are seasoned in their community, as well as sensitive to all issues.

If I do not convey anything here in this publication, please know this — that I’m running for office not to benefit myself, but to build a better community for us all.

We are capable of meeting the housing needs of our population without engaging in overdevelopment and giving kickbacks to developers who want to build up our neighborhoods. Our government can be far more transparent and I intend to continue Legislator Tom Cilmi’s fight to make our county budget process less opaque by opening up the hearings to the public and, further, scheduling them at hours when working people are able to attend.

I’m ready to advocate for the community when it comes to red-light cameras, which disproportionately impact lower-income communities and people of color. I’ll always be an advocate for our children and schools and will fight to get them the best possible quality education and community support. I firmly believe in good governance and the power of government to improve communities. I know that the best way to solve problems is to bring everyone to the table and bring people together around community-oriented solutions. I will make sure that government is an inclusive place where all voices, especially those historically unheard in government, are represented. If you elect me as your Suffolk County Legislator, I promise to do all I can to make government work for you.

<b>How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?</b>

Generally, I believe our local officials, the county executive's office, and Suffolk County Legislature did a solid job of disseminating information and resources; however, we all can do more. The coronavirus pandemic highlighted the areas where we can develop more strongly. Our communities of color were disproportionately affected in all areas — health of the residents, viability of the small businesses, resources for the children.

As PTA President, serving at the local and regional levels, it was disheartening to learn that within the third largest district in New York State (that being Islip) we have such disparity among resources to our schools. My own school district (Hauppauge) quickly provided broadband, remote support and tablets/chromebooks/iPads to all students and staff, while neighboring districts Central Islip and Brentwood needed the NAACP and other organizations to fill in the gap for these resources. In light of this issue, and this is ongoing, I organized a letter-writing campaign for students across Suffolk County and within my own school district to send to our senators advocating against a decrease in educational spending. Some of our districts here on Long Island, could not afford a 20 percent or more reduction in federal/state funding.

<b>Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.</b>

— Budget process education and efficiencies
— Environment
— Education

<b>What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?</b>

I am a proud single mother to an amazing 9-year old, who serves on student government and who also participates in dance, gymnastics, piano lessons, basketball, Girl Scouts and viola lessons.

I will mention I graduated top of my class from Hauppauge High School (Go Eagles!), Dartmouth College and Columbia Business School. I mention this solely to thank my parents and grandmother whose shoulders I stand on.

I founded my own business and was featured as a Woman in Real Estate by Globe St. Magazine, Women in Business, WIRE and ConnectCRE. My company has raised over $25M and deployed capital to acquire, redevelop and transition multifamily properties in the Carolinas, Maryland, Texas, Georgia and Florida.

<b>The best advice ever shared with me was:</b>

My father quoted the Bible: 'Walk by faith not by sight,' 2 Corinthians 5:7 during his baptism when he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior and also when I would be faced with a choice to choose a new job or new board position. That said, I ask each person reading this article to have faith in me, faith in this campaign and faith in yourselves — we are on the road less traveled and while we know the ending, the journey along this campaign will prove to be a new source of strength for Suffolk—standing for transparency, efficiency, accountability, equity and that strength will resonate with passion, poise and persistence.

<b>What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?</b>

This campaign — all elements of it from the campaign management, branding, messaging, finances, volunteers — is demonstrative of me and the person my parents and grandmother raised me to be in Hauppauge. My father passed in March of 2019 and the campaign name, Simpson for Suffolk, pays homage to him. He was a true man of vision, a visionary with no limits to the success of his children and his family. While he did not enjoy mass crowds of people, he understood the importance of community, the importance of working together and the importance of integrity. I do hope I make him, my mother and grandmother proud each and every day.

Please like my page on Facebook and Instagram and visit www.simpsonforsuffolk.com to get involved!