About Matt

A Commitment to Service

Matt has over 20 years of experience working to help people build better lives for themselves and their children. He has used his skills as a lawyer in positions at Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together, focusing on improving opportunities for low-income homeownership. He has served on the senior team at the Education Trust, helping close the achievement and opportunity gaps that leave far too many students without the skills they need to succeed in the 21st century economy. He has worked for Feeding America, the country’s network of food banks, seeking to end hunger in America. Matt most recently worked in addition to his work on the County Board for the National Indian Education Association, where he served as Legislative Director and Senior Legislative Counsel, seeking to improve educational opportunity and outcomes for Native American students.

Matt served on Arlington County’s Housing Commission (from 2013 to 2018) and the Arlington Public Schools Budget Advisory Council (from 2014 to 2018). He was a member of the Joint Facilities Advisory Board, which brings Arlington County, Arlington Public Schools, and the community together to plan for our future. Matt is a 2015 Leadership Arlington Graduate, a 2016 graduate of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, and a 2017 graduate of Arlington Neighborhood College.

Matt’s first job, after getting his BA from Duke University, was as a teacher in Houston’s Fifth Ward, a low-income community that also happens to be the hometown of civil rights leader and Congresswoman Barbara Jordan. He went on to get a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Texas School of Law and a Master’s degree from LBJ School of Public Affairs. His experience practicing law has included serving as attorney for municipalities in Texas and for school districts in California.

Tireless Advocacy

Matt grew up in northern Virginia and lived in Arlington’s Courthouse neighborhood from 2013 to 2018 before moving to the Rock Spring Neighborhood in 2020. Like him, his parents have dedicated their careers to public service. Matt’s father worked in the international development field and his mother was a lawyer at the Department of Justice and also taught in D.C. public schools. From his family Matt picked up a strong commitment to community service, a keen understanding of the importance of improving economic opportunity, and a deep sense of responsibility for leaving things better than they were before.

Matt has served as a Precinct Captain, Area Chair, and as Joint Campaign Co-Chair to elect Democrats from the School Board to the White House. He was Chief of Staff for a Texas State Representative, worked for former Secretary of State John Kerry’s campaign for President in the 2003 Iowa caucuses, and headed up northern Virginia offices for Barack Obama’s Presidential election campaigns in 2008 and 2012. He believes in the ideas that the Democratic Party stands for — they are essential to who he is, and underlie his commitment and work.

Love for Arlington County

Matt loves Arlington – he is committed to the core services that make our County a great place to live: economic opportunity; fine schools; housing affordability; a good transportation system; an inclusive, safe, and welcoming community; a nationally-recognized park system; and forward-thinking policies to address climate change.

Matt ran for County Board to keep Arlington a great place by investing in economic opportunity. As a lifelong advocate for the American Dream, he is dedicated to serving others and believes that Arlington must bring the values that make us such a great place to the new challenges we will face over the years to come.

Commissions Matt Serves as a Liaison to

Standing Advisory Commissions

Citizens Advisory Commission on Housing
Tenant-Landlord Commission
Disability Advisory Commission
Trespass Towing Advisory Board
Police Contract Towing Advisory Board
Building Code Board of Appeals

Regional Bodies

Northern Virginia Regional Commission
Secretary-Treasurer of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (WMATA Subcommittee)

Business Improvement Districts/Partnerships

Langston Boulevard Alliance
Plan Langston Boulevard

Community Groups

Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
Civilian Oversight Board