About Matt

Theresa, Elliott, Matt and Aidan

Matt is a husband, father of two boys, coach, former professor and teacher, experienced campaign manager, community development and anti-poverty advocate, anti-violence educator, and progressive leader. He is currently the Minnesota State Director of Progressive Majority, a national progressive organization dedicated to electing progressives at the state and local level. As Minnesota State Director, Matt leads Progressive Majority’s effort in recruiting and electing progressive candidates, building progressive power throughout Minnesota.

Prior to joining Progressive Majority, Matt served the DFL party in late 2006, working to elect Mark Ritchie as Minnesota’s Secretary of State. He also managed Kelley for Minnesota in 2005-06, Steve Kelley’s gubernatorial campaign. In 2004, he managed Steve Simon’s successful campaign for Minnesota State House. Over the past 17 years, Matt has managed or advised dozens of federal, state and local campaigns. Previously, Matt worked on affordable housing and community development issues as a member of the board of directors for the Central Community Housing Trust (CCHT— now called Aeon). He also worked to build the strength of Minneapolis neighborhoods as a board member of Elliot Park Neighborhood, Inc (EPNI) and served on the NRP advisory committee for EPNI.

For the past decade, Matt has worked actively to end male violence as an anti-violence educator. He founded an organization called Men Against Male Violence and served on the board of directors of the Sexual Violence Center. In both cases, Matt advocated for an active role for men in eliminating male violence. In addition, Matt holds a Ph.D. in political science and has taught political science and political philosophy at Indiana University and Kalamazoo College. He has also published several articles on progressive politics—including the unique neighborhood politics in Minneapolis—found in The State and Local Government Review, Polity, and a chapter of Democracy’s Edges.

Matt is an avid soccer player and coach. He played soccer at Oberlin College and in Ireland, and coaches his son (and a great group of kids) in the WESAC summer and fall leagues at Kenwood Park. He also loves baseball, and coaches his son and his friends in the WESAC spring league, also at Kenwood Park. When he’s not working, coaching or playing with his family, Matt can be found fixing up he and his wife Theresa’s 107 year old home.

Matt lives in the Wedge neighborhood, where he and Theresa decided to raise their kids. They love their neighborhood and their community, and know that their kids will have rich and diverse experiences throughout their childhood. Their oldest son goes to Whittier Elementary, and they are proud to support Minneapolis Public Schools.

Matt is running for City Council because he wants his children to be able to make the same choice that he and Theresa have made: the choice to live, work and play in one of the most dynamic wards in Minneapolis. He will work tirelessly to ensure that the uniqueness of our community is preserved and promoted, while also continuing the process of building power and reducing inequality and poverty in the neighborhoods of the city that have been too often ignored. Matt believes deeply in ensuring a dynamic and diverse Minneapolis and will be honored if he is elected to serve in the City Council by the residents of Ward 10.