After enjoying a career in banking for over 26 years, Simone Champagne decided to accept the position to be the first woman Chief Administrative Officer with Iberia Parish Government. In 2007 she decided to run for an open seat in the Louisiana State Legislature representing District 49. Simone won this seat, unopposed, and was re-elected to a second term in 2011 serving in this seat from 2008 to 2015. Simone has been the only woman elected to serve District 49! In 2015 Simone resigned her seat to accept an appointment by Mayor Ken Ritter as the City of Youngsville’s first woman Chief Administrative Officer until her retirement in 2020. In 2021 she was appointed by the Youngsville City Council to serve as interim Councilwoman for Division A. In 2022 Simone was elected to the Youngsville City Council in Division E.
While in the Legislature she served as Vice-Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Natural Resources & Environment, Municipal, Parochial & Cultural Affairs, Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture & Rural Development, and Education. She also sat on a special task force that dealt with the devastating hurricanes of Katrina & Rita.
Through the years Simone has served on numerous boards and commissions, coached Sr. League Softball and enjoyed volunteering for her children’s schools and many non-profit organizations. She is a board member of her HOA and is an active member of the Youngsville Chamber of Commerce. Simone has been married to Gary for over 50 years, they have 5 children and 8 grandchildren. Simone was named “Woman of the Year” by the Daily Iberian, an honoree of “Women Who Mean Business”, a graduate of Leadership Iberia, and a program pioneer for Leadership Youngsville.
