On January 1st, the Cambridge City Council gathered to elect E. Denise Simmons as the mayor of Cambridge in an 8-1 vote. Simmons, now serving her third mayoral term, has been present on the Cambridge City Council since 2002.
Simmons, known for being the nation’s first Black and lesbian mayor, holds a remarkable reputation for her hands-on involvement in city-wide civic issues. Notably, when previously in office, she established an increasingly responsive and accessible City Hall for Cambridge residents. Along with Simmons, the council elected Marc C. McGovern to serve as the city’s vice mayor, the pair now reunited after serving the 2016-2017 term in conjunction.
Mayor Simmons told the Register Forum in a statement, “I am a lifelong Cambridge resident, […] and I try to always keep my neighbors in mind as I come to work each day.” Additionally, Simmons reinforced her interest in city-wide reform, saying, “I want to continue finding ways to make housing more affordable [and] work to make Central Square safer for people to enjoy.”
A spotlight has remained on the Cambridge mayoral office since this past October after several allegations of former mayor Sumbul Siddiqui fostering a poor work environment surfaced. Siddiqui, who was running for fourth year as mayor, has held the mayoral office since 2020. Claims from her past employees alleged that she would “professionally retaliate” against them. Despite her firm denial of all claims, the controversy may have cost Siddiqui her third term as mayor; however, she still remains on the City Council.
Simmons grew up in Cambridge’s Area 4 neighborhood. With a history in the Cambridge School Council, she was later elected to the City Council, making her first mayoral debut in 2008. From her initial term in office, Simmons has prioritized shaping Cambridge into an increasingly resource-rich community for citizens. Following her 2024 inauguration, she told the Harvard Crimson, “I’m grateful [for] my colleagues, each of you, for having returned me to this role for the third time.” Simmons plans to continue her pursuit of wage fairness and affordable housing within Cambridge. As the notable leader of the Civic Union Committee, she intends to ensure that all Cambridge residents are treated equitably and respectfully.
When asked about Cambridge’s new shift in leadership, CRLS student Lula Taylor ’26 expressed to the Register Forum, “I want a mayor who is willing to take on a leading role, and cares about citizen’s values.” Taylor goes on, saying, “Regardless of circumstance, the mayor’s decisions will affect you, especially as a student.”
Most residents, antsy for positive change in their communities, look forward to Simmons’ touch on Cambridge, believing it will bring a brighter, increasingly equitable environment. Cambridge resident Sinead O’Gorman-Jones ’26 expresses her excitement for Simmons’ upcoming term, saying, “I hope for a mayor that wholeheartedly reflects the whole community’s opinions, and I look forward to what Mayor Simmons brings to Cambridge!”
This article also appears in our January 2024 print edition.
