City Dems to pick between Martin and Simmons
STAMFORD — Seven months of campaigning have come to this.
Tuesday’s primary will decide whether Mayor David Martin or state Rep. Caroline Simmons will hold the
Democratic line on the November ballot under “mayor.”
In the leadup to the primary, Martin has sought to highlight the accomplishments of his administration — often saying he has tackled a number of festering problems that he inherited from his predecessors — and has underscored his decades of experience in elected positions in Stamford. He has said that if he is reelected for a third term, it will be his last.
Simmons, who has represented the 144th District since 2015 and officially launched a challenge against Martin in February, has said that she believes residents are yearning for a new leader with fresh ideas. One of her promises has been to make city government more responsive to citizens. If elected mayor, Simmons would be the first woman in Stamford’s top office. As of the end of July, her campaign had raised more than three times as much money as Martin’s.
The Stamford Democratic City Committee voted 21-19 to endorse Simmons in July. Martin forced a primary election by getting signatures from registered Democrats. He needed 1,550 signatures, equaling 5 percent of the number of Democrats in the city. He ended up submitting hundreds more than needed.
The Stamford mayoral election will take place Nov. 2. Also running is Bobby Valentine, a former Major League Baseball manager whose hometown is Stamford. Valentine is seeking the office as an unaffiliated candidate. Republican mayoral candidate Joe Corsello dropped out on Sept. 8 and threw his support behind Valentine.
Hearst Connecticut Media sent the following questions to Martin and Simmons to answer ahead of Tuesday’s primary.
How would you assess the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic? How would you deal with the pandemic going forward?
Stamford is the recognized municipal leader on pandemic response. Our 80 percent vaccination rate is higher than any Connecticut city over 70,000 population. Even vulnerable communities, which can be hard to reach, are vaccinated at higher rates in Stamford. This is due to our many health initiatives and strong partnerships with Stamford Hospital, CHC (Community Health Center) and others. We made sure frontline workers had PPE (personal protective equipment), gave out thousands of free masks and set up testing and vaccination sites across the city. I restored the indoor mask mandate because the surging delta variant requires renewed vigilance. My highest priority is to keep us safe.
What distinguishes you from your opponent? Why do you think you are a better candidate against Bobby Valentine?
I have been an effective mayor of the most successful major city in the state. I have served our city almost 40 years on elected boards and many nonprofit organizations — more experience than all the other candidates combined. I also have years of private-sector experience managing large, complex bureaucracies, optimizing capital budgets and even managing a small business. This experience plus my intimate knowledge of Stamford laws and budget, and commitment to doing what is best for the whole city, is why we are getting it done in Stamford. We have taken our city to another level in operating efficiency and effectiveness. We have made Stamford safer, more pedestrian friendly, and improved the quality of life while holding the line on taxes. As a result, thousands of people are ‘voting with their feet.’ Stamford has grown faster than any other city in Connecticut because people want to live here.
If you lose Tuesday’s election, will you support the winner?
I am confident we will win the primary. But if not, then, yes, absolutely. I have run as a Democrat for decades. Our party stands for the values I believe in — expanding civil rights and economic opportunities for all while investing in education, health care,
transportation and environmental stewardship.
Caroline Simmons
How would you assess the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic? How would you deal with the pandemic going forward?
I’m incredibly grateful for the phenomenal work led by Stamford Health, local nonprofits, essential workers and volunteers who worked to keep our residents safe. My work as a state representative was driven by feedback from the frontline workers who were saving lives in our community every day. I am proud to have worked with Stamford’s delegation and the governor to secure more PPE (personal protective equipment) and testing sites for our city — as well as connecting residents to unemployment benefits.
As mayor, I will ensure all of our neighborhoods have access to vaccinations and public health resources. I will also fill all the vacant positions in our Department of Health to ensure our community has proper contact tracing and access to health officials in the city.
What distinguishes you from your opponent? Why do you think you are a better candidate against Bobby Valentine?
As a former Homeland Security official and a current state representative, I am the only candidate in this race with state and federal government experience who knows how to secure funding and leverage relationships to get things done for the people of Stamford. Connecticut is expected to receive $1.3 billion in funding as part of (President Joe) Biden’s infrastructure package. I am the most qualified candidate to ensure Stamford gets its fair share to finally rebuild our school buildings, fix our roads and infrastructure and make our government more responsive to residents so Stamford can reach its true potential. As a mother who is proud to raise her sons in Stamford, I have a personal investment in the future of our community for decades to come. I am passionate and excited to lead the next generation of our city and make our community better for all our residents and future generations.
If you lose Tuesday’s election, will you support the winner?
Yes, I will support the winner of the Democratic Primary.