Our nominees are dedicated public servants who share our commitment to Democratic values and a stronger, more inclusive White Plains. Learn more about the candidates we're proud to support.
OUR CANDIDATES
Running for White Plains Common Council
Valerie Simmons is a lifelong White Plains resident and community advocate with more than three decades of public service. Educated in the White Plains Public School system, she began her career through the AmeriCorps VISTA program, where she helped build capacity for local anti-poverty organizations with a focus on affordable housing during the height of Urban Renewal.
Valerie spent ten years with the White Plains Community Action Program as an Office Administrator and Community Organizer, playing a key role—alongside CAP Director Jerome “Bump” Robinson and community partners—in advocating for the construction of the Slater Center following the loss of the Carver Community Center. She later joined the White Plains Housing Authority, serving as Resident Relations Coordinator and ultimately Property Manager for 352 units of low-income housing. During this time, she also held multiple elected union leadership roles. Valerie retired after 36 years of service and remains active with the CSEA Retirees’ Local 921.
A longtime behind-the-scenes advocate, Valerie has dedicated her life to supporting communities impacted by systemic and bureaucratic barriers. She is a long-standing member of the NAACP and the Greenburgh–White Plains Chapter of the Black Women’s Political Caucus, serves on the White Plains Youth Bureau Board, and is a District Leader for the White Plains Democratic City Committee. She is also a founding member of the Coalition for Addition Without Subtraction (CAWS), focused on equitable redevelopment of the White Plains Galleria Mall, and continues to support numerous civic and social justice organizations.
Valerie remains deeply committed to preserving White Plains as a vibrant, inclusive, and diverse city where all communities are informed, engaged, and represented.
Running for Westchester County Legislator, representing the 5th Legislative District
Legislator Jenn Puja was elected to the Westchester County Board of Legislators in November 2025 and sworn into office in January 2026. She represents District 5, which includes Scarsdale, parts of West Harrison, and most of White Plains.
Jenn Puja joins the Board following six years of dedicated service on the White Plains Common Council where she was the youngest woman ever elected to that office. Jenn is a lifelong advocate, community connector, and proud Westchester native. She has been a District 5 resident all her life and carries with her a deep sense of community in all aspects of her life personally and professionally.
During her tenure on the White Plains Common Council, Jenn tackled critical issues such as affordable housing, sustainability, and prioritizing community benefits. Her work as Former Chair of the White Plains Recreation Advisory Committee and as an Advisory Board Member for Mount Sinai’s Selikoff Center for Occupational Health underscores her dedication to fostering a healthier, more vibrant community with expanded access and added opportunities.
Jenn is the Executive Director of the Westchester/Putnam Central Labor Body AFL-CIO, a nonprofit organization representing more than 100,000 working families in Westchester and Putnam. She has been a member of the Labor and Human Rights Committee of the Board of Legislators since 2018. Jenn graduated summa cum laude from Iona College with a bachelor’s degree and Long Island University with dual masters’ degrees. She lives in White Plains with her husband and two children.
Get Involved
Whether you’re interested in attending a monthly meeting, running for office, canvassing during campaign season, or volunteering at a community outreach event, there are many meaningful ways to get involved with the White Plains Democratic City Committee. Join us in advancing Democratic values, supporting local candidates, and making a lasting impact in our city.