Jo Anne Simon
{{short description|American politician}}
{{similar names|Joanna Simon (disambiguation){{!}}Joanna Simon}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Jo Anne Simon
|image = MTA Jo Anne Simon (cropped).jpg
|caption = Simon in 2023
|state_assembly = New York
|district = 52nd
|term_start = January 1, 2015
|term_end =
|predecessor = Joan Millman
|successor =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|10|6}}
|birth_place = Yonkers, New York, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Democratic
|spouse = Bill Harris
|education = Iona College (BA)
Gallaudet University (MA)
Fordham University (JD)
|website = {{URL|assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Jo-Anne-Simon|State Assembly website}}
|signature=Jo Anne Simon Signature.png
}}
Jo Anne Simon (born 1952) is an American attorney and politician serving as a member of the New York State Assembly for the 52nd District of the New York State Assembly. She is a Democrat. The district includes portions of Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Gowanus, Park Slope, Boerum Hill and DUMBO in Brooklyn. She was a candidate for Congress in New York's newly redrawn 10th congressional district in 2022.
Early life and education
Simon was born in Yonkers, New York. A first-generation college student,{{citation needed|date = May 2021}} she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Iona College. She later earned a Master of Arts degree from Gallaudet University, and a Juris Doctor from the Fordham University School of Law.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/16/style/weddings-jo-anne-simon-william-l-harris.html |title=WEDDINGS;Jo Anne Simon, William L. Harris |work=New York Times |date=1996-09-16 |access-date=2016-01-22 }}
Career
After graduating from law school, Simon established a disability civil rights law firm in Downtown Brooklyn. She also worked as an adjunct assistant professor of law at Fordham University. A resident of Brooklyn for nearly forty years, Simon formerly served as the president of the Boerum Hill Association before being elected to the New York State Assembly. In 2014, she was elected district leader and state committeewoman for the 52nd Assembly district.{{cite news|date=2012-09-04|title=A former judge and civil rights lawyer lead crowded pack to take over Brooklyn Democratic Party|work=New York Daily News|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/judge-civil-rights-lawyer-lead-crowded-pack-brooklyn-democratic-party-article-1.1146593|access-date=2016-01-22}}
On October 1, 2020, Simon announced her candidacy for Brooklyn Borough President in front of James Madison High School as a tribute to Ruth Bader Ginsburg. If she had been elected, she would have been the first woman to hold the office; she finished in second place, behind City Council member Antonio Reynoso.{{Cite web|last=Duggan|first=Kevin|title=Assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon declares for Borough President|url=https://www.brooklynpaper.com/jo-anne-simon-borough-president-assembly/|access-date=2020-10-04|website=Brooklyn Paper|date=October 2020 |language=en-US}}{{cite web |last1=Quinn |first1=Anna |title=Antonio Reynoso Wins Brooklyn Borough President Primary Race |url=https://patch.com/new-york/bed-stuy/antonio-reynoso-likely-winner-brooklyn-borough-president-race |website=Patch |date=6 July 2021 |access-date=1 January 2022}}
=New York Assembly=
In 2014, nine-term Assemblywoman Joan Millman announced she would retire.{{cite news |url=http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2014/5/19/assemblywoman-millman-retire-nys-assembly |title=Assemblywoman Millman to retire from the NYS Assembly |work=Brooklyn Eagle |date=2014-05-19 |access-date=2016-01-22 }} Soon after, Simon announced she would enter the race to succeed her.{{cite news |url=http://observer.com/2014/05/jo-anne-simon-says-shell-run-for-joan-millmans-seat/ |title=Jo Anne Simon Says She'll Run for Joan Millman's Seat |work=Observer |date=2014-05-20 |access-date=2016-01-22 }} In a three-way primary, Simon secured over 53% of the vote and won the general election with 69% of the vote.{{cite news |url=http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/70038 |title=Jo Anne Simon Wins 52nd AD Democratic Primary, Will Face Guitar Playing GOP Challenger in November |work=Brooklyn Heights Blog |date=2014-09-09 |access-date=2016-01-22 }}
Simon was sworn into office on January 1, 2015. In the Assembly, she serves as the Chair of the Committee on Mental Health.
Personal life
Simon is married to Bill Harris and resides in Boerum Hill.https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2014/04/21/star-of-brooklyn-jo-anne-simon/
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Jo-Anne-Simon/comm/ New York State Assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon] government website
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{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Joan Millman}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the New York Assembly
from the 52nd district|years=2015–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{New York State Assembly}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simon, Jo Anne}}
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:Candidates in the 2021 United States elections
Category:Candidates in the 2022 United States House of Representatives elections
Category:Fordham University School of Law alumni
Category:Gallaudet University alumni
Category:Iona University alumni
Category:Democratic Party members of the New York State Assembly
Category:People from Boerum Hill, Brooklyn
Category:Politicians from Yonkers, New York
Category:Politicians from Brooklyn
Category:Women state legislators in New York (state)
Category:21st-century members of the New York State Legislature