Simmons on the campaign trail: at ease with people, issues
STAMFORD — About 18 members of the civic and business community gathered around the square of tables in the back room at Zody’s 19th Hole, overlooking the first tee’s water trap at the city’s E. Gaynor Brennan Golf Course in the Hubbard Heights neighborhood.
Up against a wall of windows are several steam tables with chicken and vegetables, but state Rep. Caroline Simmons’ appearance in Connecticut’s highest-profile mayoral contest is the main attraction for this Rotary Club luncheon.
After some small talk and eating, Simmons, her phone facing down on the white tablecloth, summarizes the city’s needs. Outdated bridges and roads come up as a topic high on everyone’s list.
“This poses a public safety hazard and also a quality-of-life issue for commuters,” says the co-chairwoman of the state legislature’s Commerce Committee, the endorsed Democrat for mayor of Connecticut’s second largest city.
“We’re really at an opportune moment right now with the federal infrastructure package, which will hopefully be passing any day now. Connecticut can expect to receive between five and seven billion dollars in funding for all kinds of infrastructure projects. So we need to be ready on day one to have shovel-ready projects and a plan so that we can apply to the state for funding.”
The 35-year-old Harvard University graduate and lawmaker, in her fourth two-year term representing the city in the General Assembly, is comfortable talking about issues. The campaign has grown increasingly testy between Simmons and her unaffiliated opponent, the 71-year-old restaurateur and retired Major League Baseball manager Bobby Valentine.
Education, naturally, comes up early and often. “Right now, our students are struggling. They just spent a year out of the classroom. Many of them are behind on literacy and math,” Simmons says. “About a quarter of our freshmen are not on track to graduate right now.”
While the mayor doesn’t have a vote on the Board of Education, she promises to work closely with them if elected. “I want to expand pre-K options and to make sure our teachers are trained with literacy and phonics.” Business growth and job creation are next on her checklist, followed by affordable housing and property taxes.
“We all know how expensive our city is getting and it’s pricing so many people out, whether it’s senior citizens who can’t afford to retire here, rising property taxes on working families working multiple jobs and still struggling to afford their rent or mortgage, or even a new college grad who can’t afford an apartment here,” Simmons tells the small audience.
The questions get granular. A complaint rises about the slowness in getting the new paving on High Ridge Road marked with fresh paint lanes.
A question focuses on Simmons’ experience in local government. Valentine, who was briefly a town department head several years back, has made Simmons’ lack of municipal work an issue. The last three mayors rose through commissions such as the Board of Finance and the Board of Representatives.
“You’re right, it’s a complex city with serious challenges and you need somebody day one, with a smart team in place to serve the community,” said Simmons, who works as a policy specialist at the Yale University School of Public Health in addition to her legislative seat. “But I think my background working for a combined 12 years in the federal government and in our state government and at the local level in nonprofit work is very important.”
She promises a cabinet with local expertise, and has been reviewing the city budget.
“There’s no question there will be a learning curve, as there would be for any new mayor,” Simmons says. “But putting together a strong team is very important.”
When the issues swing back to taxes, Simmons talks about energy efficiencies for city buildings and maximizing federal and state funding, while growing the grand list of taxable properties. “I don’t want to promise I’m going to lower property taxes, because I don’t want to be deceptive,” she admits.
The conversation shifts again to the aging population, and a member points out that Stamford’s indigent elderly population is at 12 percent, but projected to reach 35 percent by 2040.
“There’s no question we need senior housing,” she says. “We currently have a two-tofive-year wait list.” She points out that Stamford is one of the few cities in the state without a free-standing senior center (it’s inside the government center.)