E. Denise Simmons sets her sights on Galluccio's seat

The first openly lesbian African-American mayor in the country, E. Denise Simmons of Cambridge, Mass., announced Wednesday, Feb. 17 that she has entered the race to occupy the State Senate seat vacated by Sen. Anthony D. Galluccio, who was sentenced to a year in prison following a hit-and-run.

"The difficult job market, the affordable housing crunch, and the strain upon our social services providers have taken a toll on us all," the Cambridge City Councilor said in a statement announcing her campaign. "[W]e need strong leaders in the legislature who are prepared to roll up their sleeves, respond to their districts' needs, and get Massachusetts back on track. ...I'm the right person for the job because I've already been doing that in Cambridge for years."

Simmons recently concluded her first term serving as the mayor of Cambridge, the latest endeavor in a political career that has spanned nearly three decades. "I got started in public service quite organically," she said. "I first got involved in the early 1980s when my children were young and in the public schools. I chose a school that embraced parental involvement, and I got to know all the teachers and other parents quite well. Because I had some basic knowledge of the local Democratic figures, I had some knowledge on how to advance the causes I was passionate about, and I gradually began working with the other parents in a grassroots fashion.

"I expanded upon this experience when I became the Executive Director of the Civic Unity Committee; in that role, the issues I worked on -- and the people I worked with -- became more diverse. By the early '90s, I was elected to the School Committee, and from there I moved to the City Council. In each role, I've focused my energies on listening to my constituents, and on trying to find commonsense solutions to everyday issues."

Councilor Simmons' mayoral tenure was marked by efforts to make City Hall more accessible and accountable. "I'm not running because this represents the next rung on the political ladder. I'm running because Beacon Hill needs people who understand how to push legislation through that will promote economic growth and will protect people from slipping into crisis.

"As Mayor of Cambridge, I promoted building new economic foundations through programs like the Green Jobs Task Force, and I looked for ways to give new small business owners a chance to flourish. For those folks who did lose their jobs, or were in danger of losing their housing, I worked overtime to connect them to support services to get them back on their feet. I've worked hard for my constituents in City Hall, and I am ready to work twice as hard on Beacon Hill."

Simmons married her longtime partner Mattie Hayes in an Episcopalian service in Cambridge last August.