David Simas

David Matos Simas[1][2] (born January 5, 1970)[2][1] is an American lawyer, former government official and a former politician. He is the current Chief Executive Officer of the Obama Foundation[3][4] and served in Barack Obama's administration as the White House Director of Political Affairs from 2011 to 2016.[5][6]

David Simas
White House Director of Political Affairs
In office
February 1, 2011 – December 19, 2016
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byPatrick Gaspard
Succeeded byBill Stepien
Register of Deeds of the Northern District of Bristol County
In office
2005 – January 4, 2007
Preceded byJoseph L. Amaral
Succeeded byBarry J. Amaral
Personal details
Born
David Matos Simas

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

Early life

Simas was born and raised in Taunton, Massachusetts by Portuguese immigrant parents, Antonio and Deolinda Simas.[2] Deolinda 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.[4]

Education

He attended Coyle and Cassidy High School and then gained a degree from Stonehill College.[2] He graduated with a J.D. degree from Boston College Law School in 1995.[5]

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.[7][1]

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.[8] He was later elected as the new Register of Deeds of the Northern district of Bristol County in 2004.[9] He won reelection in 2006 but later resigned to accept a position in Governor Deval Patrick's administration.[9]

Political career

He began his political career working as an intern in Senator Edward M. Kennedy's office in 1989.[10] He was later elected to the Taunton School Board in 1993 and the Taunton City Council in 1997 and 1999.[10][7] He would later serve as president of the council.[10] He would later serve as an advisor to the Mayor of Taunton.[7]

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.

Post-political career

He was appointed CEO of the Obama Foundation in December 2016.[3]

Personal life

Simas married his high school sweetheart, Shauna. They have two daughters and live in Hyde Park in Chicago.[2][4]

References
  1. Morton, Paradise, Kenneth G., Papalinka (December 2007). The Massachusetts Political Almanac 2007. Center For Leadership Studies. ISBN 9780926766341.
  2. Perl, Peter (Summer 2014). "Meet the unflappable, unrelentingly positive David Simas". BC Law School Magazine. Boston College Law School. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  3. Eilperin, Juliet (December 19, 2016). "White House political director David Simas joins Obama Foundation as CEO". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  4. Bertagnoli, Lisa (May 3, 2018). "Meet the CEO of the Obama Foundation". Crain's Chicago Business. Crain Communications, Inc. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  5. Shear, Michael D. (March 1, 2014). "Obama's new political chief tries to reassure Democrats". The New York Times. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  6. Allen, Jonathan; Parnes, Amie (2017). ""I'm sorry"". Shattered: inside Hillary Clinton's doomed campaign. New York: Crown. ISBN 9780553447095.
  7. Lowe, James F. (November 23, 2006). "Patrick picks 2 for team - Mayor, prof tapped". Daily Hampshire Gazette. Northampton, Massachusetts.
  8. BRISTOL COUNTY REGISTRY OF DEEDS NORTHERN DISTRICT Website (archived October 1, 2003)
  9. David M. Simas (D)
  10. American Journal, Portuguese (January 25, 2013). "Appointed: David Simas named Assistant to President Barack Obama – Washington, DC". Portuguese American Journal.
Political offices
Preceded by
Patrick Gaspard		 White House Director of Political Affairs
2011–2016		 Succeeded by
Bill Stepien
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