For years, residents of Brooklyn's 33rd District have called on Jo Anne Simon to run for City Council, touched in various ways by her long and varied public service career.

Simon has finally jumped at the opportunity - sensing, perhaps, that this is her best chance - and in a few short months has quickly emerged as a leading candidate in a crowded field vying for the influential position.

In an interview, Simon said she feels comfortable with her decision to run, and is confident her community service experience and reputation for independent action will stack up favorably against her opponents'.

Of course, being the 52nd Assembly District's Female Leader doesn't hurt, either, though Simon shied away from explaining how, exactly, she hopes to translate this and other experiences to the City Council if elected.

"I have a long track record of deep roots in the community for pursuing change," Simon said, instead. "I've been ahead of the curve on a lot of issues."

From her work as an educator to her more prominent role as a lawyer and community activist, Simon has indeed become well known in the Downtown Brooklyn area, especially around her Boerum Hill neighborhood.

The first person in her Yonkers family to attend college, since moving to Brooklyn in 1981 Simon has helped co-found the Downtown Brooklyn Coalition, chaired the Gowanus Expressway Community Stakeholders Group, and served as president of the Boerum Hill Association.

She said her civic work has given her an unmatched understanding of the issues in her district, where residents are active in the community and expect their voices to be heard.

As an alternative transportation and open spaces advocate, Simon said she would work to protect and expand green space in the district, while ensuring opportunities for commercial growth that best benefit area residents.

"The number one priority in this district is measuring and balancing development, community, and the transportation network," said Simon. "People have been crying out for a more meaningful role in that, and we find ways of managing this."

Simon said if elected she would look to join the Transportation, Land Use, and Education committees, among others, to put her expertise to work for the entire district.

"These are issues I've worked on that I would love to continue working on," said Simon.