Can Joshua Simmons make Coral Springs history and win mayor’s race? 5 takeaways

District 4 City Commissioner Joshua Simmons has announced he will run for Coral Springs mayor, challenging current mayor Scott Brook.

Simmons says he wants to bring a forward-thinking, people-centered vision to the city.

FULL STORY: Joshua Simmons launches Coral Springs mayoral bid against longtime incumbent

Here are the highlights:

• Simmons moved to Coral Springs at age 22 to care for his sister while his mother was deployed. He studied political science and psychology, later working as a mental health counselor and teacher.
• His political journey started through internships and volunteering, including helping on a historic judge’s campaign. In 2018, he won a grassroots campaign to become the city’s first Black commissioner.
• Simmons is known for his Emmy-winning series discussing race and policing, and he later became the city’s first Black vice mayor. He has also played key roles in transportation projects for the city.
• If elected, Simmons would be Coral Springs’ first Black mayor. He says he’s focused on putting residents first and delivering effective leadership at the local level.
• Incumbent mayor Scott Brook has served several terms, with his current service stretching back to 2019 after a previous term from 2006-2010. The upcoming mayoral race will decide who leads Coral Springs next.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in the Coral Springs News newsroom. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by Coral Springs News journalists.