E. Denise Simmons

E. Denise Simmons
Denise Simmons in 2008
Mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts
Incumbent
Assumed office January 2016
Preceded by	David P. Maher
In office January 2008 – January 2010
Preceded by	Kenneth Reeves
Succeeded by	David P. Maher
Personal details
Alma mater	University of Massachusetts Boston, Antioch College
Occupation	Insurance agent

E. Denise Simmons is the mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts, having served her first mayoral term during the 2008–2009 term and she was the first openly lesbian African-American mayor in the United States. The previous mayor of Cambridge, Kenneth Reeves, was the first openly gay African-American mayor in the United States. As Cambridge mayor, Simmons served as head of the city's legislative body—while the non-elected city manager serves as the city's chief executive officer.

Simmons grew up in Cambridge's Area 4 neighborhood and attended Cambridge schools. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts Boston, and a Master's degree in Psychotherapy from Antioch College. In 1982, she established her own business, the Cambridgeport Insurance Agency.

Simmons is also a photo archivist and family historian, and has facilitated workshops for public and private organizations both nationally and locally—including for the Cambridge Public Schools. Simmons has received numerous awards and commendations for her work in the community.

A Justice of the Peace and Notary Public, Simmons came to public office with 12 years of experience with the city-funded citizen rights organization Civic Unity Committee, which she served as executive director. Among the work performed while in this role was her successful fight to increase the diversity within the Cambridge public school faculty. In 1992, Simmons ran for and won a spot on the Cambridge School Committee. She quickly won praise from across Cambridge for her tremendous work ethic, and for her efforts to find ways to build consensus with her colleagues. Over the next several years, Simmons gained a reputation as a calm, thoughtful voice on the school committee, and as a person who always kept her door open to anyone who wished to speak with her.

In 2001, Simmons ran for and won a seat on the city council. She immediately set out to make local government more accessible to a wider range of people, and through efforts such as holding "town hall" style meetings, Simmons worked to get more people involved in their own governance. Simmons – being Black, a woman, and a member of the GLBT community – worked hard to make sure that each of these constituencies were given a voice inside City Hall. Simmons was a member of the City Council when Cambridge City Hall became the first municipality, in 2004, to issue same-sex marriage licenses. She also promoted efforts to help local minority business owners network and establish themselves in Cambridge. Simmons also helped initiate community conversations about the role of race and class in contemporary Cambridge society.