Career
He is most known for his placing a mule, named "Boston Curtis", on the ballot for Republican precinct committeeman for Milton. In 1938, Simmons entered Curtis into the election for the post of Republican precinct committeeman for Milton. He ran unopposed and was elected on September 13, 1938 by 51 votes, despite having run no election campaign, or offered a platform.
Residents were surprised to learn that Curtis was actually a long-eared brown mule.
Simmons stated that he had done this to demonstrate that many people vote without considering who they are actually voting foreign The mule later crossed the floor, joining the Stevens lobby.
On Halloween 1939, he hired a group of teenagers as special policemen for the night. Twenty teens from nearby Fife invaded Milton and challenged them to a fight.
State police eventually arrived to stop the fight.
After serving as mayor of Milton, Simmons served in the state legislature for several terms. Later, he and his family moved to Lake Bonney and founded the town of Bonney Lake. He became its first mayor.