David Simas
Simas in 2021
White House Director of Political Affairs
In office
January 24, 2014 – December 19, 2016
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byPatrick Gaspard (2011)
Succeeded byBill Stepien
Personal details
Born
David Matos Simas

(1970-01-05) January 5, 1970
Taunton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseShauna
Children2
EducationStonehill College (BA)
Boston College (JD)

David Matos Simas[1][2] (born January 5, 1970)[2][1] is an American lawyer, former government official, and a former politician. He was the President of the Obama Foundation from 2021 to 2023,[3] having previously served as its CEO from 2016 to 2021[4][5] and served in Barack Obama's administration as the White House Director of Political Affairs from 2014 to 2016.[6][7]

Early life and education

Simas was born and raised in Taunton, Massachusetts, the son of Portuguese American immigrant parents, Antonio and Deolinda Simas.[2] Simas lost two of her fingers in a faulty machine at the silver factory where she worked when Simas was a child. The Portuguese immigrant lawyer who worked on the case inspired Simas to become a lawyer.[5] He attended Coyle and Cassidy High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stonehill College.[2] He later earned a Juris Doctor from the Boston College Law School in 1995.[6]

Career

Simas began his political career working as an intern in Senator Edward M. Kennedy's office in 1989.[8] He was later elected to the Taunton School Board in 1993 and the Taunton City Council in 1997 and 1999.[8][9] He later served as president of the council and worked as an advisor to the mayor of Taunton.[9]

After leaving the city council he served as an assistant register of deeds for the Northern district office of the Bristol County Registry of Deeds.[10] He was later elected as the new Register of Deeds of the Northern district of Bristol County in 2004.[11] He won reelection in 2006 but later resigned to accept a position in Governor Deval Patrick's administration.[11]

He formerly served as deputy general counsel to the Massachusetts House of Representatives Post Audit and Oversight Bureau and practiced law with the law firm of Gay & Gay Associates, PC.[9][1]

He worked as deputy chief of staff to Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick from 2007 until 2009. In 2009, he joined the Obama White House as a deputy assistant to the president, working under Senior Advisor David Axelrod.

He worked as director of opinion research for President Obama's 2012 re-election campaign and then served as a liaison between the president and Democratic officials for two and a half years.[12]

Simas was appointed CEO of the Obama Foundation in December 2016.[4]

Personal life

Simas married his high school sweetheart, Shauna. They have two daughters and live in Hyde Park in Chicago.[2][5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Morton, Paradise, Kenneth G., Papalinka (December 2007). The Massachusetts Political Almanac 2007. Center For Leadership Studies. ISBN 9780926766341.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Perl, Peter (Summer 2014). "Meet the unflappable, unrelentingly positive David Simas". BC Law School Magazine. Boston College Law School. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  3. ↑ https://www.chicagobusiness.com/nonprofits-philanthropy/obama-foundation-president-david-simas-leaving
  4. 1 2 Eilperin, Juliet (December 19, 2016). "White House political director David Simas joins Obama Foundation as CEO". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 Bertagnoli, Lisa (May 3, 2018). "Meet the CEO of the Obama Foundation". Crain's Chicago Business. Crain Communications, Inc. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  6. 1 2 Shear, Michael D. (March 1, 2014). "Obama's new political chief tries to reassure Democrats". The New York Times. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  7. ↑ Allen, Jonathan; Parnes, Amie (2017). ""I'm sorry"". Shattered: inside Hillary Clinton's doomed campaign. New York: Crown. ISBN 9780553447095.
  8. 1 2 American Journal, Portuguese (January 25, 2013). "Appointed: David Simas named Assistant to President Barack Obama – Washington, DC". Portuguese American Journal.
  9. 1 2 3 Lowe, James F. (November 23, 2006). "Patrick picks 2 for team - Mayor, prof tapped". Daily Hampshire Gazette. Northampton, Massachusetts.
  10. ↑ BRISTOL COUNTY REGISTRY OF DEEDS NORTHERN DISTRICT Website (archived October 1, 2003)
  11. 1 2 David M. Simas (D)
  12. ↑ Dovere, Edward-Isaac (January 24, 2014). "W.H. to launch new political office". Politico. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
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