Robin Rue Simmons was a newcomer to Evanston politics before she won the 5th Ward’s aldermanic race earlier this year.

“I have been self-employed most of my adult life,” said Rue Simmons, who was born in the ward she now represents. “(I have run) businesses in the construction industry and in retail.”

She ran her most recent business, Signature Construction Services, for seven years before she began her campaign for alderman. The company was started initially as a decorating business, but evolved into a construction company, Rue Simmons said.

Rue Simmons’ involvement in politics began through participation in activism. When she returned to her hometown in the early 2000s, she said she began to take part in civic engagement and activism in the city.

Upon learning that former 5th Ward alderman Delores Holmes was retiring, she decided to launch her candidacy. Simmons was endorsed by Holmes, as well as by the Evanston chapter of Reclaim Chicago, a political organization that endorses candidates for political offices in and near Chicago.

Tyler Darnell, who worked at Reclaim Chicago during the aldermanic race, said he helped Rue Simmons with her campaign.

“I helped her with fundraising and ran events and worked on her field program, as well,” Darnell said.

Rue Simmons ultimately beat out Carolyn Murray in the 5th Ward race, despite a controversy during the campaign in which Evanston residents sued Rue Simmons’ company for allegedly not completing a home renovation contract project.

Janet Alexander Davis, who helped organize Rue Simmons’s campaign, credited Rue Simmons’ win to her charisma and public speaking skills.

“She’s a masterful speaker and communicator,” Davis said. “She articulates her positions extremely well. She is personable and looks at people when she’s talking to them, and she engages them through eyesight and kind of brings you in so that you know that’s she’s speaking to you.”

One of Rue Simmons’ biggest focuses during her campaign was improving access to education in the 5th Ward.

Although she commended Evanston/Skokie School District 65, she also said that she hoped to expand the educational resources available. Rue Simmons praised the work of the YMCA and educational institutions besides D65 schools, and discussed the possibility of other educational organizations coming to the area.

“I would invite other educational organizations to make the 5th Ward of Evanston their home,” Rue Simmons said. “I’m very encouraged by the commitment of the YMCA, with their new Head Start program that is located inside of Family Focus. We have other organizations, like Kingsway Preparatory and Paige & Paxton … that are providing education resources to our residents here.”

Another platform of Rue Simmons’ campaign, and something she currently is focusing on, is the development of affordable housing. She said hopes to create affordable housing throughout Evanston to reduce what she described as de facto segregation in the city.

“I want to push for affordable housing to expand beyond the 5th Ward and help the community to turn our attention to disinvested neighborhoods and underserved residents,” Rue Simmons said. “I would like to unite our diverse but segregated city.”

Rue Simmons said she planned to work with the other aldermen to spread accomplish her affordable housing goals. She said she believes that Evanston’s affordable housing fund, which was expanded last year, will provide a foundation for putting such a plan into action.

“I am looking forward to working with my colleagues on City Council to come up with a thoughtful and strategic plan to expand affordable housing city-wide,” Rue Simmons said.

Another priority, she said, is improving the walkability of the 5th Ward through the addition of new businesses — as well as, she hopes, a bank and a new “splash park.”

“There are some opportunities for improvement,” Rue Simmons said of her ward, “(such as) expanding our business districts and … inviting new businesses to town so that we are as walkable as other communities.”

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