David Simas
CEO of the Obama Foundation From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
CEO of the Obama Foundation From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
David Matos Simas[1][2] (born January 5, 1970)[2][1] is an American lawyer, former government official, and a former politician. He was the President of the Obama Foundation from 2021 to 2023,[3] having previously served as its CEO from 2016 to 2021[4][5] and served in Barack Obama's administration as the White House Director of Political Affairs from 2014 to 2016.[6][7]
David Simas | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Simas in 2021 | |
| White House Director of Political Affairs | |
| In office January 24, 2014 – December 19, 2016 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Patrick Gaspard (2011) |
| Succeeded by | Bill Stepien |
| Personal details | |
| Born | David Matos Simas January 5, 1970 Taunton, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Shauna |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Stonehill College (BA) Boston College (JD) |
Simas was born and raised in Taunton, Massachusetts, the son of Portuguese American immigrant parents, António and Deolinda Simas.[2] Deolinda lost two of her fingers in a faulty machine at the silver factory where she worked when David was a child. The Portuguese immigrant lawyer who worked on the case inspired David to become a lawyer.[5] He attended Coyle and Cassidy High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stonehill College.[2] He later earned a Juris Doctor from the Boston College Law School in 1995.[6]
Simas began his political career working as an intern in Senator Edward M. Kennedy's office in 1989.[8] He was later elected to the Taunton School Board in 1993 and the Taunton City Council in 1997 and 1999.[8][9] He later served as president of the council and worked as an advisor to the mayor of Taunton.[9]
After leaving the city council he served as an assistant register of deeds for the Northern district office of the Bristol County Registry of Deeds.[10] He was later elected as the new Register of Deeds of the Northern district of Bristol County in 2004.[11] He won reelection in 2006 but later resigned to accept a position in Governor Deval Patrick's administration.[11]
He formerly served as deputy general counsel to the Massachusetts House of Representatives Post Audit and Oversight Bureau and practiced law with the law firm of Gay & Gay Associates, PC.[9][1]
He worked as deputy chief of staff to Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick from 2007 until 2009. In 2009, he joined the Obama White House as a deputy assistant to the president, working under Senior Advisor David Axelrod.
He worked as director of opinion research for President Obama's 2012 re-election campaign and then served as a liaison between the president and Democratic officials for two and a half years.[12]
Simas was appointed CEO of the Obama Foundation in December 2016.[4]
Simas married his high school sweetheart, Shauna. They have two daughters and live in Los Angeles, CA.[2][5]
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