Antoine Simon

9th Executive of Mathieuville since 2021 (born 1979)

**Antoine Simon** (born March 19, 1979) is a Haitian Afro-Creole politician serving as the 9th Executive of Mathieuville since February 13, 2021. A member of the KND-PUSD and of Pati Refòm, Simon served as a member of the Creole Council in two separate stints, first from 2015 to 2017 and then from 2019 to 2021.

Simon enlisted in the Haitian Marine Corps in 1997 at the age of 18 after completing high school, eventually he was able to climb the ranks and reach Master Sergeant. He was discharged in 2009 after 7 years of service. After leaving the military, he studied at the University of Haiti, Port-au-Prince and graudated with a Bachelor's in Public Administration and then proceeded to obtain a MPA.

Simon was a lifelong supporter and eventual member of the Haitian National Congress. Upon completing his degree in 2015, he ran and won for a seat on the Creole Council of Mathieuville as a member of the party. He did not run for re-election in 2016 and was instead appointed to serve as the Secretary of Health and Welfare for Mathieuville. He served in the role from 2017 to 2019, before returning to his seat in the Creole Council in 2019. He would then run for the Executive position, as incumbent Robert St. Louis' term was coming to an end due to him serving in an acting capacity. He would win the primary election in a landslide before defeating moderate reformist Noel Bonhomme. He took office as the 4th Executive of Mathieuville on February 13, 2021.

## Early life

Simon was born on March 19, 1984 in Mathieuville, Haitian Republic to an affluent Afro-Creole family. His father Henry worked as a high-ranking Department-level government official for the Office of Public Affairs. His mother Ariel worked as a Social Work professor at the University of Haiti, Port-au-Prince. He has two older siblinbs, one older brother and sister; as well as a younger brother and two younger sisters. He attendd the National High School of Mathieuville and played varsity track and lacrosse. He graduated from high school in 2002, and chose to enlist in the Haitian Marine Corps.

## Military career

Simon attended the Marine Corps' Basic Training program from June to August of 1997. For the entirety of his initial 5-year contract with the Marines, he was stationed at Marine Corp Base near the border with the Dominican Republic. In 2002, he chose to become a drill instructor at the Marine Corps' Training Depot in Port-de-Paix in Northern Haiti. He entered the Drill Instructor School in April of 2002 and graduated in May. During drill instructor, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant First Class. He served as a drill instructor at Port-de-Paix from 2002 until he was discharged from the Marines in 2009 at the rank of Master Sergeant.

## Post-military career

After retiring from the Marine Corps, Simon returned to school and completed his Bachelor's Degree in Social Work in 2013 at the elite Louis Mathieu University. He earned a full scholarship to the school thanks to his military ties and because his mother had been a professor at the school. He then went on to complete a Master's Degree in Social Work/Public Administration in 2014. His time in graduate school proved to be difficult as in November of 2013, Simon's mother passed away after struggling with Alzheimer's Disease. His father was also recently moved to a nursing home. In college, he became a member of the elite fraternal organization known as the 301 Society.

## Political career

### Mathieuville Creole Council (2015–2017)

Simon was first elected to the Creole Council of Mathieuville in 2015. He ran for the seat that was vacant due to the retirement of Darwin Elysee. He announced his candidacy for the open seat on November 1, 2014 at the age of 30. He entered a small field of candidates, all from his own Haitian National Congress (KND) party. The field would quickly narrow however, and he eventually ran unopposed. Simon took office on February 13, 2015, becoming the youngest person to hold office in Mathieuville's history.

## Political positions

### Beliefs

Simon is a member of the KND-PUSD and is considered a member of the Progressive Reformist faction of the party, which is a more liberal and pro-democracy faction of the party. Prior to 2023, he was a member of the Haitian National Congress. Simon joined the KND in college and has been a lifelong supporter of the Mathieu family. Simon is considered fiscally conservative and socially moderate. He favours increasing the social welfare safety net and ensuring people avoid poverty. He also favours increasing taxes on the rich. He is opposed to ending the racial segregation in Haiti known as Gwo Divize an. He is against gay marriage and is opposed to all abortions. He favours the death penalty for serious offences, and has introduced bills in the legislature to expand the death penalty to include things such as firing squads. He has expressed mixed opinions about improving ties with the west. He is a strong proponent of the monarchy. He supports press restrictions and censorship. He is also an advocate for the implementation of Universal Health Care.

Simon also believes in a stronger military and opposes reducing military and national police budgets. He has opposed marriages between Creoles and non-Creoles as a member of the Creole Council.

### Party affiliations

Simon provoked some controversy in January of 2024 when he joined joined Pati Refòm, a minor opposition party affiliated with Hope and Change. This was especially true with the Orthodox-wing of the Mathieuists. He was denounced by the Peter Dessources, the President of the Catonsville chapter of the KND-PUSD. He is also a member of The Dessalines Society and of Project RAD.

## Personal life

Simon is a Roman Catholic. He has been married to Sherly since 2006 and have two children together. His older son Jefferson is the Mayor of Mathieuville, and his younger son Alfred is a defensive end for the Mathieuville Creoles. His grandfather Ronaldo Simon was the first Commissioner of the Haitian League.