Aravella Simotas

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Aravella Simotas (born October 9, 1978)[1] is an American politician from Astoria, Queens. As of 2011, she is a member of the New York State Assembly for the 36th Assembly District in Queens, New York, and a member of the Democratic party.[1]

Simotas was born in Zimbabwe.[1] The daughter of Greek parents,[2] she is one of the first Greek-American women elected to office in New York, and the first woman elected to office from her district."[3] She shares the honor with Nicole Malliotakis, another newly elected State Assembly member who is half-Greek.[4]

Education and early career

Simotas' parents immigrated from Greece to Astoria when she was six months old.[5] She graduated from Astoria's William C. Bryant High School.[2][3][6]

She received a bachelor of arts degree (summa cum laude) from Fordham University in 1999, followed by a law degree from the Fordham University School of Law in 2002.[1][2][3][6][7] While in college, Simotas worked for City Councilmen Peter Vallone, Sr. and Peter Vallone, Jr.[5] During law school, she was an editor at the Fordham Environmental Law Journal[8] and later became a managing editor.[3][6][7][9] She first gained notice as the moderator at a Law Journal panel about citing electric generators in New York City under New York energy law.[9]

After law school, Simotas was a law clerk at the United States Court of International Trade.[2][6][7] She called that a "formative experience" for her.[2] She has been an associate attorney at Bickel & Brewer, a litigation firm with about 40 attorneys in Manhattan.[2][6][7]
2010 election

In the September 2010 Democratic party primary, Simotas faced "conservative Democrat" John Ciafone and Jeremiah Frei-Pearson, a civil rights attorney.[10] The New York Post named her as a potential candidate in February 2010.[2] Even by that early in the election cycle, her exploratory committee had raised over $60,000.[2]

She received notice as potentially the first Greek-American female legislator.[11] By July 2010, Simotas had raised over $185,000 and garnered 4,400 signatures to get on the ballot.[12]

Simotas was endorsed by the Taminent Regular Democratic Club, which included the incumbent Mike Gianaris, State Senator George Onorato, and City Councilman Peter F. Vallone, Jr.[13] She was also endorsed by Congress members Joe Crowley and Carolyn Maloney, New York City Council speaker Christine Quinn, the Powhatan and Pocahontas Regular Democratic Club, and the Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club of Queens.[14] By August, Frei-Pearson and Ciafone dropped out of the race.[15] Therefore, as she racked up political endorsements, Simotas became unopposed in the Democratic primary.[15][16]

She won the September primary election[1] and ran unopposed in the November 2, 2010 general election.[17][18]

References

^ a b c d e f "Legislative Preview: Meet the New Members," The Capitol, January 2011, p. 13. Found at NY Capitol News website. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
^ a b c d e f g h Jeremy Walsh, "Astoria resident sets sights on Gianaris seat: CB 1 member Aravella Simotas to run for longtime friend's position in the state Assembly," New York Post, February 17, 2010. Found at New York Post website. Accessed January 19, 2011.
^ a b c d Official biography at the New York State Assembly website. Accessed January 19, 2011.
^ "Legislative Preview: Meet the New Members," The Capitol, January 2011, p. 19. Found at NY Capitol News website. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
^ a b Walsh, Jeremy. "Astoria resident sets sights on Gianaris seat". yournabe.com. February 18, 2010. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
^ a b c d e FindLaw listing: Aravella Simotas. FindLaw.com. Accessed March 13, 2011.
^ a b c d Meet the Firm - The Professionals: Aravella Simotas. Bickel & Brewer. Accessed March 13, 2011.
^ Fordham University website. Accessed January 20, 2011.[dead link]
^ a b Aravella Simotas, "Discussion: Panel III: Electric Generators in New York City: Balancing the Energy and Environmental Needs of the Community," 8 Fordham Envtl. Law J. 531 (2002). Abstract found at LexisNexis website. Accessed January 20, 2011.
^ Chris Bragg, "Conservative Democrat Enters Race For Gianaris Seat," City Hall News, May 28, 2010. Found at City Hall News. Accessed January 19, 2011.
^ Anastasios Papapostolou, "Aravella Simotas the First Greek American Woman Up for NY Assembly," Greek USA Reporter, February 12, 2010. Found at Greek USA Reporter. Accessed January 19, 2011.
^ David Freedlander, "Simotas Announces Fundraising, Petition Numbers," New York Observer, July 14, 2010. Found at New York Observer. Accessed January 19, 2011.
^ "Taminent Regular Democratic Club Endorses Aravella Simotas for New York State Assembly," Greek News, February 1, 2010. Found at Greek News. Accessed January 19, 2011.
^ 504 Democratic Club website questionnaire page. Accessed January 20, 2011.
^ a b Diana Huynh, "In Astoria, the Field Narrows," Gotham Gazette, August 05, 2010. Found at Gotham Gazette website. Accessed January 20, 2011.
^ John Toscano, "Simotas Unchallenged For 36th A.D. Seat As Ciafone Quits," Queens Gazette, August 18, 2010. Found at Queens Gazette website. Accessed January 20, 2011.
^ "Assembly Election Returns: November 2, 2010" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
^ "Election Results 2010: New York State Legislature". The New York Times. 2010.

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