2026 New York General Election

Valerie Simmons

Buket Urgen

Valerie Simmons is a lifelong White Plains resident and community advocate with more than three decades of public service. Educated in the White Plains Public School system, she began her career through the AmeriCorps VISTA program, where she helped build capacity for local anti-poverty organizations with a focus on affordable housing during the height of Urban Renewal.

Common Council — Valerie Simmons

A longtime behind-the-scenes advocate, Valerie has dedicated her life to supporting communities impacted by systemic and bureaucratic barriers. She is a long-standing member of the NAACP and the Greenburgh–White Plains Chapter of the Black Women’s Political Caucus, serves on the White Plains Youth Bureau Board, and is a District Leader for the White Plains Democratic City Committee.

Valerie Simmons is a lifelong White Plains resident. She was educated in the White Plains Public School system. She is a member of the NAACP and the Greenburgh–White Plains Chapter of the Black Women’s Political Caucus, and serves on the White Plains Youth Bureau Board.

Valerie Simmons - Directory - White Plains, NY

Valerie Simmons is a lifelong public servant who has spent more than five decades removing barriers between people and the institutions meant to serve them. Simmons began as a VISTA volunteer, where she helped faith communities navigate urban-renewal programs, connected families to services and legal aid, and helped mobilize support for the creation of the Thomas H. Slater Center.

County Executive Ken Jenkins Announces 44th Annual Senior Hall of Fame Celebration

Valerie spent ten years with the White Plains Community Action Program as an Office Administrator and Community Organizer, playing a key role—alongside CAP Director Jerome “Bump” Robinson and community partners—in advocating for the construction of the Slater Center following the loss of the Carver Community Center.

During her 36 years with the White Plains Housing Authority, she became a trusted resident advocate, managed public housing, resolved resident concerns, and helped people navigate systems that felt inaccessible.

During this time, she also held multiple elected union leadership roles. Valerie retired after 36 years of service and remains active with the CSEA Retirees’ Local 921.

Valerie Simmons is retired. She previously worked for the White Plains Housing Authority and as an office administrator and community organizer for the White Plains Community Action Program. She began her career as a VISTA volunteer.

County Executive Ken Jenkins Announces 44th Annual Senior Hall ...

The mayor was joined by Council President Victoria Presser and Common Council members Evelyn Alicea-Santiago, Jeremiah Frei-Pearson, Thomas Caruso, Valerie Simmons and Nicholas Wolff.

Remembering 9/11: White Plains City School District Students Help Honor Lives Lost 25 Years Ago

Valerie serves as a member of the White Plains Common Council.

Remembering 9/11: White Plains City School District students help ...

As of October 22, 2026, Valerie Simmons’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Economy

Valerie spent ten years with the White Plains Community Action Program as an Office Administrator and Community Organizer, playing a key role—alongside CAP Director Jerome “Bump” Robinson and community partners—in advocating for the construction of the Slater Center following the loss of the Carver Community Center. She later joined the White Plains Housing Authority, serving as Resident Relations Coordinator and ultimately Property Manager for 352 units of low-income housing.

Advocated for construction of the Slater Center after the Carver Community Center closed.

- Advocated for construction of the Slater Center after the Carver Community Center closed.

Public Services

She is also a founding member of the Coalition for Addition Without Subtraction (CAWS), focused on equitable redevelopment of the White Plains Galleria Mall, and continues to support numerous civic and social justice organizations.

Opposes additional market-rate housing, saying, “Lord, we have enough market rate housing.”

Valerie Simmons supported Brasch as the “change” White Plains needs at a time of transition in leadership. “I’ve always been on the sideline and this time I’m getting involved,” she said. Simmons likes Brasch’s focuses on sustainability and affordable housing. “Lord, we have enough market rate housing,” she added. The Primary Election is set for June 24.

WhitePlainsExaminer1-14-25.pdf

Co-founded the Coalition for Addition Without Subtraction, focused on equitable redevelopment of the White Plains Galleria Mall.

- Co-founded the Coalition for Addition Without Subtraction, focused on equitable redevelopment of the White Plains Galleria Mall.

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

Healthcare

Education

Kathy Guglielmo

- City Council Members work together to enact local laws, approve the city budget, and oversee land use and zoning regulations. ​
- Council Members oversee city agencies, ensuring they effectively serve the public and address community needs. ​

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