Coral Springs Vice Mayor Joshua Simmons announces 2022 re-election campaign

Coral Springs, Florida – Vice Mayor Joshua Simmons of Coral Springs has launched his reelection campaign to retain his city commission seat when voters head to the polls in 2022.

A former high school history teacher, Simons, changed his career trajectory by becoming an account manager at Hotwire Communications during his first term.

Simmons was the first African American to win a city commissioner seat, before being named vice mayor in 2020.

In 2018, Simmons knocked on more than 1,000 doors to win Seat 4 but doesn’t mind doing it again.

“Campaigning is an opportunity to talk to people. I love politics, and I love being a city commissioner, always improving as I go,” said Simmons. “No one else has filed yet to run against me, but if and when they do, I’m looking forward to it.”

According to Simons, there won’t be an official campaign kickoff until after the holidays, and that the announcement he’s running again will also be delivered in a virtual message on October 7.

Hi’s platform for the next four years doesn’t look too different from his first term.

“The best thing about being a public servant is having a solid plan even if you aren’t sure what’s going to happen next. There are so many nuts and bolts when it comes to finding a solution, a challenge I’ve always enjoyed,” he said.

Simmons has been an instrumental voice for the Black community in Coral Springs, leading initiatives like ‘Conversations with a Commissioner,’ a video series focused on open discussions about race, equality, and police practices. Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, he graduated with a bachelor of science in political science and a master’s of science in psychology from Florida Atlantic University. Having worked in mental health and education before entering politics, Simmons said his proudest moment to date has been connecting with residents and fellow elected officials to transcend the worst hardships of COVID-19.

“To have been able to help our constituents through a real rough patch and see our community work and rise above together has been the highlight of my career so far. To be able to say, ‘I did something well is the reason I’m running again.”