Aravella Simotas
Encyclopedia
Aravella Simotas 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
.
Simotas was born in Zimbabwe
. The daughter of Greek
parents, 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." She shares the honor with Nicole Malliotakis
, another newly elected State Assembly member who is half-Greek.
.
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. While in college, Simotas worked for City Councilmen Peter Vallone, Sr.
and Peter Vallone, Jr.
During law school, she was an editor at the Fordham Environmental Law Journal and later became a managing editor. 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
.
After law school, Simotas was a law clerk
at the United States Court of International Trade
. She called that a "formative experience" for her. She has been an associate attorney
at Bickel & Brewer, a litigation firm with about 40 attorney
s in Manhattan
.
had raised over $60,000.
She received notice as potentially the first Greek-American female legislator. By July 2010, Simotas had raised over $185,000 and garnered 4,400 signatures to get on the ballot.
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.
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. By August, Frei-Pearson and Ciafone dropped out of the race. Therefore, as she racked up political endorsements, Simotas became unopposed in the Democratic primary.
She won the September primary election
and ran unopposed in the November 2, 2010 general election
.
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
politician from Astoria, Queens
Astoria, Queens
Astoria is a neighborhood in the northwestern corner of the borough of Queens in New York City. Located in Community Board 1, Astoria is bounded by the East River and is adjacent to three other Queens neighborhoods: Long Island City, Sunnyside , and Woodside...
. As of 2011, she is a member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
for the 36th Assembly District in Queens, New York, and a member of the Democratic party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
Simotas was born in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
. The daughter of Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
parents, 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." She shares the honor with Nicole Malliotakis
Nicole Malliotakis
Nicole Malliotakis is a Republican politician from New York City who represents parts of Brooklyn and Staten Island in the New York State Assembly. She is the first Hispanic-American to win elective office to any district that encompasses Staten Island. She is one of the first Greek-American women...
, another newly elected State Assembly member who is half-Greek.
Education and early career
Simotas' parents immigrated from Greece to Astoria when she was six months old. She graduated from Astoria's William C. Bryant High SchoolWilliam Cullen Bryant High School
William Cullen Bryant High School, or William C. Bryant High School, and Bryant High School for short, is a secondary school located in Queens, New York City, New York, United States serving grades 9 through 12.-Name:...
.
She received a bachelor of arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree (summa cum laude) from Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
in 1999, followed by a law degree
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the Fordham University School of Law
Fordham University School of Law
Fordham University School of Law is a part of Fordham University in the United States. The School is located in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City, and is one of eight ABA-approved law schools in that city.-Overview:According to the U.S. News & World Report, 1,516 J.D. students attend...
in 2002. While in college, Simotas worked for City Councilmen Peter Vallone, Sr.
Peter Vallone, Sr.
Peter F. Vallone, Sr. is an American politician.- Background :His father, Judge Charles J. Vallone of the Queens County Civil Court, encouraged young Peter to broaden his horizons beyond the limited social interactions with other ethnic and religious groups than were encouraged in the pre-Vatican...
and Peter Vallone, Jr.
Peter Vallone, Jr.
Peter F. Vallone Jr. is a member of the New York City Council representing the 22nd District, encompassing Astoria, Queens and the surrounding communities since 2002, succeeding his father, Peter Vallone, Sr....
During law school, she was an editor at the Fordham Environmental Law Journal and later became a managing editor. She first gained notice as the moderator at a Law Journal panel about citing electric generators in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
under New York energy law
New York energy law
New York energy law is the statutory and common law of the state of New York concerning the policy, conservation, and utilities involved in energy, along with its regulation and taxation.-Energy Law :...
.
After law school, Simotas was a law clerk
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
at the United States Court of International Trade
United States Court of International Trade
The United States Court of International Trade is an Article III court, with full powers in law and equity. The Customs Court Act of 1980 replaced the old United States Customs Court with the United States Court of International Trade. The Court has nine sitting Judges, as well as Senior Judges...
. She called that a "formative experience" for her. She has been an associate attorney
Associate attorney
An associate attorney is a lower-level employee of a traditional law firm who does not hold an ownership interest as a partner.-Attorneys:An associate may be a junior or senior associate, but normally does not yet hold an ownership interest in the firm even if they have been associated with the...
at Bickel & Brewer, a litigation firm with about 40 attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
s in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
.
2010 election
In the September 2010 Democratic party primary, Simotas faced "conservative Democrat" John Ciafone and Jeremiah Frei-Pearson, a civil rights attorney. The New York Post named her as a potential candidate in February 2010. Even by that early in the election cycle, her exploratory committeeExploratory Committee
In the election politics of the United States, an exploratory committee is an organization established to help determine whether a potential candidate should run for an elected office. They are most often cited in reference to United States Presidential hopefuls, prior to the primaries.Exploratory...
had raised over $60,000.
She received notice as potentially the first Greek-American female legislator. By July 2010, Simotas had raised over $185,000 and garnered 4,400 signatures to get on the ballot.
Simotas was endorsed by the Taminent Regular Democratic Club, which included the incumbent Mike Gianaris
Michael N. Gianaris
Senator Michael Gianaris was elected to the State Senate in 2010 with over 81% of the vote after a decade of dedicated public service in the State Assembly...
, State Senator George Onorato
George Onorato
George Onorato was a Democratic member of the New York State Senate, representing the 12th Senate District in Queens, New York, since winning a special election in 1983....
, and City Councilman Peter F. Vallone, Jr.
Peter Vallone, Jr.
Peter F. Vallone Jr. is a member of the New York City Council representing the 22nd District, encompassing Astoria, Queens and the surrounding communities since 2002, succeeding his father, Peter Vallone, Sr....
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. By August, Frei-Pearson and Ciafone dropped out of the race. Therefore, as she racked up political endorsements, Simotas became unopposed in the Democratic primary.
She won the September primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
and ran unopposed in the November 2, 2010 general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
.