American female politician
Sarita Simmons
(born May 14, 1977) is an American politician, serving in the
Mississippi State Senate
from the 13th district since 2020.
[1]
Early life and education
[
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Simmons was born in
Cleveland, Mississippi
.
[1]
Her father is
Willie Lee Simmons
, former Mississippi Senate member from the 13th district and current Central District Transportation Commissioner.
[2]
Her mother was the
Bolivar County
Circuit Clerk, the first African American since
Reconstruction
to serve that post.
[2]
Simmons attended
Cleveland High School
and graduated from
Alcorn State University
with a
bachelor's
in education and psychology.
[1]
[3]
Career
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Simmons has worked as the general manager for the family-owned restaurant, The Senator's Place, which is located in Cleveland, Mississippi.
[2]
[4]
When her father didn't file for re-election for the 13th district, she decided to run. The district encompasses parts of Bolivar, Sunflower, and Tallahatchie counties.
[5]
She received 42.1% of the vote in the Democratic primary election and 65.1% in the general election; she assumed office on January 7, 2020.
[6]
In the Mississippi Senate, she serves as vice-chair for the Investigate State Offices Committee and is a member on the following committees: Agriculture; Appropriations; Corrections; Drug Policy; Environment Prot, Cons, and Water Res; Labor; Ports and Marine Resources; and State Library.
[1]
Political positions
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Simmons, in partnership with Senator
Walter Michel
, authored a bill to allow wine sales in grocery stores; the bipartisan bill died in the Senate Finance Committee.
[7]
In coordination with several Delta Legislators, Simmons created a multi-step plan to address conditions at the
Mississippi State Penitentiary
in
Sunflower County
, an infamous prison located in Simmon's 13th district.
[8]
[9]
[10]
This came after lawmakers proposed additional cuts for funding to the
Mississippi Department of Corrections
.
[11]
She voted for changing the
Mississippi state flag
.
[12]
Personal life
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She is a member of the
Delta Sigma Theta
sorority,
NAACP
,
National Council of Negro Women
, and the Bolivar County Democratic Executive Committee.
[1]
She is a
Christian
.
[1]
References
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