OUR PRIORITIES

MEETING THIS MOMENT TOGETHER

ARLINGTON IS FACING REAL CHALLENGES.

Federal workers are under attack. Immigrant families are being targeted. Rising costs are pushing families out. Over 26,000 of our neighbors face hunger. The Trump Administration’s policies threaten our economy, our values, and our people.

MATT BELIEVES GOVERNMENT WORKS BEST WHEN IT LISTENS, EMPOWERS, AND DELIVERS FOR EVERYONE.

As a teacher, nonprofit leader, and County Board member, he’s spent his career focused on the fundamentals: keeping families housed, kids fed and educated, and building an economy where everyone can thrive. These aren’t abstract policies—they’re about whether families can build stable lives in Arlington.

WE’LL MEET THIS MOMENT BECAUSE IT’S WHAT ARLINGTON DOES WHEN THINGS GET HARD.

During COVID, we took care of each other. When the Trump Administration attacked our values, we took to streets and bridges protest. When neighbors needed help, we showed up. Arlington takes care of its own—and that’s exactly what we’ll do now.

The path forward requires steady leadership and community strength working together: Listen to what residents need. Empower people with the tools to succeed. Collaborate on lasting solutions. And serve with the dedication this moment demands.

We can navigate the challenges ahead, ensuring Arlington remains a place where everyone can thrive.

Matt’s parents both worked for or with the federal government. He knows personally that public servants deserve respect—and that when public service is undermined, we all suffer.

About 30,000 Arlington workers depend on federal employment, and the Trump Administration’s attacks threaten our community’s stability. Matt is supporting federal workers through resource fairs and dedicated services, leading the Commercial Market Resiliency Initiative to convert empty office buildings into housing, attracting diverse employers like Costar, and standing with labor through collective bargaining and prevailing wage policies.

Our economy’s backbone is Metro and our people. If we invest wisely in both, we’ll not just survive this moment—we’ll come out stronger.

WHAT MATT’S DOING

Supporting Federal Workers

  • Established resource fairs, forums, and a dedicated webpage to help federal employees navigate job transitions
  • Set aside $11.5 million in budget reserves to guard against Trump Administration cuts
  • Working with Arlington’s economic development team to serve displaced federal workers

Diversifying Our Economy

  • Led the Commercial Market Resiliency Initiative (CMRI) to convert empty office buildings into residential housing—reducing office vacancy by more than 1% in a single meeting
  • Attracted companies like Costar to Rosslyn, bringing new jobs and economic activity
  • Supporting Amazon’s HQ2 development, which has generated over $500 million for affordable housing without using hotel tax incentives

Standing with Labor

  • Passed Collective Bargaining Ordinance and Prevailing Wage Ordinance to protect workers’ rights
  • Partnered with the Carpenter’s Union to prevent wage theft
  • Proud to have support from NOVA Labor and the Building Trades

What’s Next: On the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, Northern Virginia Regional Commission, and WMATA/Metro Board, Matt is working regionally on challenges no single community can solve alone. He’s focused on keeping Metro funded sustainably—our economy depends on it.

When Matt taught in Houston, he saw students whose families moved constantly because they couldn’t afford stable housing. He saw how that instability affected everything—grades, friendships, futures. That’s why housing has been his top priority on the County Board.

Arlington is losing affordable housing faster than we can replace it, pushing out teachers, first responders, and working families who make our community work. Matt is preserving existing affordable housing, investing in new units, preventing evictions, and supporting expanded housing options like duplexes and townhomes so young families can afford to stay.

If we don’t invest in affordable housing, we risk displacing the people who make Arlington work.

WHAT MATT’S DOING

Preserving Existing Affordable Housing

  • Invested $150 million to preserve 1,300+ apartments at Barcroft for families earning 60% of median income or below—the most important housing decision of his time on the Board
  • Supported affordable housing projects like Queen’s Court to ensure geographic diversity
  • Changed zoning policies to allow more affordable housing near Metro stations
  • Committed to ensuring 10% of affordable units serve those earning 30% of median income or less

Preventing Evictions

  • Made eviction prevention a top priority during COVID and beyond
  • Expanded rental assistance programs to help thousands of Arlington families stay in their homes
  • Worked with the Department of Human Services and nonprofit partners to keep families housed during the pandemic

Increasing Our Supply of Family-Sized Units

  • Supporting zoning changes to allow duplexes on small lots and triplexes on larger lots
  • These modest changes help young families and seniors afford homeownership without massive developments
  • Believes Arlington’s 25-year prohibition on row houses contributed to racial wealth inequity—and we have a responsibility to do better going forward

What’s Next: Matt is working with faith institutions on local “YIGBY” (Yes In God’s Backyard) legislation to create affordable housing on underused land. He’ll also push for additional Housing Division staff to meet the challenge.

Over 26,000 Arlingtonians—8.8% of our community—are at risk of hunger, with more than 4,000 households getting help from AFAC every month. The Trump Administration’s threats to SNAP funding and federal nutrition programs mean Arlington must step up—because the federal government won’t. Matt is expanding food assistance, strengthening partnerships with community organizations, and ensuring the 23,000 residents living below the poverty line are the top budget priority.

Our fellow Arlingtonians in need are our families and neighbors. If Arlington can’t make sure everyone has food on the table, what are we doing?

WHAT MATT’S DOING

Immediate Response

  • Secured a Food Security Coordinator position to assess and coordinate hunger relief efforts
  • Established a Food Security Task Force bringing together the County, Arlington Public Schools, and community partners
  • Invested in additional resources for AFAC and food assistance mini-grants in 2025

Long-Term Solutions

  • Developed a Food Security Strategic Plan on the Hunger and Food Insecurity Working Group he formed with County Manager Mark Schwartz and Superintendent Dr. Francisco Duran
  • Focusing on closing gaps and addressing racial inequities in food access
  • Making hunger relief a Chair’s priority—because this is how we measure ourselves as a community

What’s Next: Matt is committed to ensuring the 23,000 Arlington residents living below the poverty line are the top priority in the 2026 budget. That means sustained investment in food assistance, strategic partnerships with community organizations, and ensuring no family goes hungry while we have the resources to help.

Matt’s first job out of college was teaching elementary school in Houston’s Fifth Ward, a low-income community. That experience—seeing the barriers students faced and the difference good teachers made—shaped his entire career.

School needs are growing, budgets are tight, and persistent opportunity gaps leave students with disabilities, low-income students, and students of color without the resources they need. Matt is funding schools adequately, supporting teachers and staff, and working to close achievement gaps so every student has the tools to succeed.

As a former teacher and a parent, I know quality education isn’t just about test scores. It’s about giving every child—regardless of zip code or family income—the chance to build the future they deserve.

WHAT MATT’S DOING

Funding Schools Adequately

  • Supported additional funding in 2019 to close budget gaps caused by enrollment growth
  • Worked with APS to provide funding for outdoor lunch facilities during COVID in 2021
  • Passed more than $400,000 in funding for after-school programs serving students in need

Closing Opportunity Gaps

  • Served on the Arlington Public Schools Budget Advisory Council from 2014-2018, including as Chair in 2017-2018
  • Served on committees addressing achievement gaps affecting students with disabilities, low-income students, and students of color
  • Advocated for investments that ensure all students have skills to succeed in the 21st century economy

Supporting Teachers and Staff

  • Believes Arlington must value teachers and school staff to attract and retain talent
  • Supports competitive compensation and working conditions that make teaching sustainable
  • Honored to have the support of all five members of the Arlington Public School Board, because they know Matt has delivered for our schools, teachers, and students

What’s Next: Matt is committed to partnership with the School Board and Superintendent to ensure schools get the resources they need—while being honest about fiscal constraints. He is committed to looking at every avenue of potential funding for our schools and kids.

Public safety requires both strong first responders and community trust, but our police and fire departments face critical staffing shortages while communities need real accountability. Firefighters are “holding over” shifts when we’re understaffed—meaning they work extra hours because we don’t have enough personnel. At the same time, building trust between law enforcement and the community—especially communities of color—requires ongoing commitment to transparency, accountability, and reform.

Matt is funding police and fire departments to address vacancies, implementing civilian oversight with subpoena power, adopting body-worn cameras, and pursuing smart criminal justice reforms that improve both safety and equity.

Real safety means every resident—regardless of race, immigration status, or zip code—can trust that when they call for help, help comes. And that when mistakes happen, there’s real accountability. Both matter.

WHAT MATT’S DOING

Supporting Police, Fire, and EMS

  • Supported additional ongoing funding to address critical vacancies in the police department and chronic understaffing in fire/EMS
  • This isn’t an investment Matt takes lightly, but he believes adequately staffing these departments is essential to keeping residents safe
  • Ensuring first responders have the resources and support they need to do their jobs well

Building Trust Through Accountability

  • Enacted a Police Civilian Oversight Board with subpoena power after extensive community input and revisions
  • Hired an Independent Police Auditor in 2022 to review department practices
  • Adopted body-worn cameras for police, sheriff’s deputies, and select fire personnel in 2020
  • Established a Police Practices Group to review policies and make recommendations

Smart Criminal Justice Reforms

  • Supporting school safety cameras that allow officers to focus on traffic compliance and public safety overall instead of traffic stops—reducing unnecessary interactions that can escalate
  • Working through the Community Criminal Justice Board to discover and implement best practices for safety
  • Believes innovation and data-driven approaches can improve both safety and equity

Responsive Government

  • Public safety also means responding quickly to everyday concerns—like the trash collection issues with changed contractors in 2025
  • Committed to oversight of essential services and readiness to address unexpected problems as they arise

What’s Next: Matt believes safety and justice aren’t competing priorities—they’re inseparable. A truly safe community is one where everyone is protected, everyone is treated fairly, and everyone trusts the systems meant to serve them. That means continued investment in police and fire, continued commitment to oversight and accountability, and continued focus on the criminal justice reforms that make our system fairer and more effective.

Matt rides his bike around Arlington. He sees the dangerous intersections, the incomplete sidewalks, the places where pedestrians and cyclists share space unsafely. He knows we can—and must—do better.

Too many Arlington roads are dangerous—Carlin Springs Road, George Mason Drive, and Fairfax Drive lack basic facilities for safe walking, biking, and transit. Matt is prioritizing pedestrian and bike safety, fixing high-injury corridors, investing in transit and trail connections, and working toward Vision Zero—the goal of eliminating all traffic deaths.

Safe streets aren’t a luxury—they’re a necessity. Every parent should be able to send their kid to school on foot or bike without fear.

WHAT MATT’S DOING

Prioritizing Dangerous Corridors

  • Walked Carlin Springs Road with advocates after recent accidents to see problems firsthand
  • Advocated for advancing safety studies in the Capital Improvement Plan
  • Committed to both short-term urgent fixes and medium-term infrastructure investments

Supporting Vision Zero

  • Fully supports Vision Zero—the goal of eliminating all traffic deaths
  • Believes transportation planning must prioritize pedestrian and bike safety
  • Supports reallocating street space from parking or driving lanes to create protected bike lanes, wider sidewalks, and dedicated transit lanes

Regional Leadership

  • Secured funding for the Crystal City to DCA pedestrian bridge, a critical multimodal connection that better connects the region
  • Chair of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission’s Metro Subcommittee
  • Worked to secure funding for bike and bus infrastructure
  • Advocated for addressing unsafe intersections across the region

Modernizing Our Trail Network

  • Supports fixing dangerous trail designs like hairpin turns and steep drop-offs
  • Wants to give pedestrians dedicated space separate from bikes and scooters
  • Supports adding dark-sky friendly lighting for safe travel after dark
  • Committed to filling critical gaps: connecting the W&OD to Four Mile Run Trail at Shirlington Road and the Arlington Boulevard Trail to the Teddy Roosevelt/I-66 Bridge

What’s Next: Matt wants to see greater funding for small Vision Zero projects that can be implemented quickly. He believes we need to give more weight to individual accidents when prioritizing work—every crash matters. The Master Transportation Plan needs a rewrite infusing Vision Zero throughout, and Matt is ready to push for that work in 2026.

As a father to two young children, Matt wants to do everything we can to ensure a safe, livable future for our kids by protecting against current environmental threats and making our living more sustainable now.

Climate change is an existential threat, and Arlington must do its part while making our community more sustainable and livable for future generations. Matt is working toward 100% renewable electricity by 2035, investing in solar energy, improving transit and bike infrastructure, and making it easier for residents to weatherize homes and go solar. Matt and his wife Brooke have also gone solar on their own home

We can’t wait for the federal government to act on climate. Arlington has the tools, the talent, and the responsibility to lead—and we will.

WHAT MATT’S DOING

Clean Energy Goals

  • Successfully advocated for ambitious targets during the 2019 Community Energy Plan rewrite: 100% renewable electricity by 2035, carbon neutrality by 2050, and 100% renewable electricity for county government operations by 2025
  • Championed a solar farm partnership with Dominion Energy providing 79,000 megawatt-hours annually—covering 80% of county government energy needs at no upfront cost and no impact on consumer rates
  • Made Arlington the first Virginia locality to engage in a power purchase agreement of this scale

Making It Easier for Residents

  • Working to complete educational videos on residential energy efficiency and solar energy
  • Believes more Arlingtonians would weatherize homes and go solar if they understood the benefits through energy audits
  • Focused on smart engagement, planning, and regulation rather than just new spending

What’s Next: Matt is focused on making it easier for residents to take action themselves, strengthening regulations, and planning for the future. Clean energy acquired from solar powers county buildings, streetlights, traffic signals, water pumping, and wastewater treatment.

Matt believes budgets are moral documents. They show what we value, who we prioritize, and what kind of community we want to be. In tough times, those choices matter even more.

Arlington faces fiscal challenges in 2026. Federal cuts threaten our economy. Inflation affects costs. Needs are growing while resources are constrained. We must make tough choices—but those choices should protect the most vulnerable first. Matt is protecting Arlington’s triple-A bond rating while prioritizing services for vulnerable residents—low-income families, immigrants, federal workers, and LGBTQ+ residents—and ensuring critical services like police, fire, Metro, and schools stay strong.

In a critical moment like this, our budget shows who we are. Do we protect those most vulnerable? Do we invest in our future? Those aren’t just policy questions—they’re moral ones.

WHAT MATT’S DOING

Fiscal Responsibility

  • Committed to protecting Arlington’s triple-A bond rating
  • Set aside $11.5 million in budget reserves to guard against Trump Administration cuts
  • Believes we must be smart about long-term sustainability while investing strategically to counteract economic challenges

Protecting the Most Vulnerable

  • The roughly 23,000 Arlington residents living below the poverty line should be the top budget priority
  • That means prioritizing: immigrant families facing persecution, low-income households, federal employees facing job losses, and LGBTQ+ residents under attack
  • Amended policies to prohibit voluntary collaboration with ICE
  • Invested strategically in services supporting immigrant families through the Arlington Community Foundation

Essential Services

  • Supported additional ongoing funding for police and fire departments to address vacancies and understaffing
  • Committed to funding Metro sustainably—our economy depends on it
  • Ensured trash collection, public safety response, and basic services remain strong

Strategic Investments

  • Continued investment in affordable housing through Housing Grants program, eviction prevention, and Capital Improvement Program
  • Sustained funding for hunger relief through AFAC and food assistance
  • Partnership with Arlington Public Schools on after-school programs and education funding
  • Maintaining our commitment to racial equity, police oversight, and community safety

What’s Next: Matt acknowledges there won’t be easy choices—we may have to ask for more fiscal resources than in past years. But the budget must counter the Trump Administration’s cuts by protecting those most in need and investing in what makes Arlington strong.