Sarita Simmons facts for kids

Sarita Simmons was born on May 14, 1977. She is an American politician. Since 2020, she has served in the Mississippi State Senate. She represents the 13th district.

Early Life and Education

Where Sarita Simmons Grew Up

Sarita Simmons was born in Cleveland, Mississippi. Her father, Willie Lee Simmons, was also a politician. He served in the Mississippi Senate for the same 13th district. He is now a Transportation Commissioner. Her mother was the Circuit Clerk for Bolivar County. She was the first African American to hold that job since the Reconstruction period.

Her Schooling and College

Sarita Simmons went to Cleveland High School. After high school, she attended Alcorn State University. She earned a bachelor's degree there. Her studies focused on education and psychology.

Political Career and Service

How Sarita Simmons Started in Politics

Before becoming a senator, Sarita Simmons worked as a general manager. She managed her family's restaurant, The Senator's Place. This restaurant is located in Cleveland, Mississippi.

Her father decided not to run for re-election in the 13th district. So, Sarita Simmons chose to run for the seat herself. The 13th district covers parts of Bolivar, Sunflower, and Tallahatchie counties.

Election and Taking Office

In the Democratic primary election, she received 42.1% of the votes. She then won the general election with 65.1% of the votes. Sarita Simmons officially took office on January 7, 2020.

Her Role in the Mississippi Senate

As a member of the Mississippi Senate, she holds important roles. She is the vice-chair of the Investigate State Offices Committee. She also serves on several other committees. These include Agriculture, Appropriations, and Corrections. Other committees she is part of are Drug Policy, Environment Protection, Conservation, and Water Resources. She also serves on Labor, Ports and Marine Resources, and State Library committees.

Important Political Actions

Working on New Laws

Sarita Simmons has worked with other senators on new laws. For example, she partnered with Senator Walter Michel. They wrote a bill to allow grocery stores to sell wine. This bill had support from both major political parties. However, it did not pass in the Senate Finance Committee.

Addressing Prison Conditions

She also worked with other lawmakers from the Delta region. They created a plan to improve conditions at the Mississippi State Penitentiary. This prison is in Sunflower County. It is located in her district. This plan came after lawmakers suggested cutting funds for the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

Voting on the State Flag

Sarita Simmons voted to change the Mississippi state flag. This was a significant decision for the state.

Personal Life

Sarita Simmons is a member of several organizations. She belongs to the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. She is also a member of the NAACP and the National Council of Negro Women. Additionally, she serves on the Bolivar County Democratic Executive Committee. She is a Christian.