Antonio French facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Antonio French
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| Born | October 16, 1977 |
| Education | MBA, Washington University |
| Alma mater | Auburn University |
| Occupation | former St. Louis City Alderman |
| Spouse(s) | Jasenka Benac French |
| Children | 1 |
Antonio French is a former city alderman from St. Louis, Missouri. He represented the 21st Ward, which is like a neighborhood district in the city.
From 2009 to 2017, Antonio French served as the alderman for the area where he grew up. This area included parts of the Penrose, College Hill, and O'Fallon neighborhoods. Before becoming an alderman, he was a Democratic Committeeman for the 21st Ward. He also helped run many successful political campaigns through his own consulting company. Antonio French also ran a newspaper called The Public Defender.
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Antonio French's Public Service
Serving as Alderman
Antonio French was first elected as an alderman in 2009. He held this important role until 2017. In 2010, a local newspaper called the Riverfront Times named him "Best Local Politician."
During his first term, he worked on a big project to install security cameras in his ward. This project, costing $600,000, helped to reduce crime in the area. He also tried to pass a law to add speed bumps in O'Fallon Park, but the mayor did not approve it.
He also started a "Block by Block" program. This program worked with companies and non-profit groups to fix up houses each month. He also organized jazz concerts in O'Fallon Park for the community to enjoy.
After being re-elected in 2013, Alderman French worked on a bill to create a civilian review board. This board would be made up of seven people. Its job would be to look at police evidence and investigations. The board could suggest more questions or evidence if they were not satisfied. If still not happy, they could do their own investigation. They could then suggest actions to the police chief. During this time, he also earned his MBA degree from Washington University.
Running for Mayor
In 2017, Antonio French ran for Mayor of St. Louis. A major newspaper, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, supported him. He finished fourth among the seven candidates.
Helping Kids Learn
In 2012, Antonio French started an education program called The North Campus. This program was inspired by a similar one in New York City. The North Campus offers after-school tutoring, mentoring, and fun activities for over 150 children.
The goal of this organization is to help children get a great education. It also aims to give them a good childhood experience. The hope is that this will help them and their families rise out of poverty. Antonio French is both the founder and President of The North Campus. He helps coordinate services for students at different locations. The organization's non-profit status was temporarily affected but was fully restored.
Role in Community Events
In 2014, Antonio French became well-known across the country. He played a key role in sharing information about the community events in Ferguson, Missouri. He used social media and photos to document what was happening. He was also one of the first elected officials to get involved. He worked as a photo-journalist and helped to mediate situations.
Personal Life
Antonio French is married to Jasenka. She came to the United States with her family from Bosnia. They came as refugees during the Bosnian War.
