Matthew Meade

Matthew Meade was born in Marion, Ohio. Meade earned a bachelor's degree from The Ohio State University in 2014. His career experience includes working as a restaurant server.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Matthew Meade. I am a working-class, LGBTQIA+ community member fighting to make our community my priority in Ohio's Third Congressional District. It is time our United States Government is comprised of working-class people who can fix the broken system that our out-of-touch politicians have created. Someone who has lived-in experience of the people in their district and someone ready to fight for those who have been forgotten.

As someone who works in a restaurant, doesn't have health insurance, lives paycheck to paycheck, and was unemployed twice during the pandemic and lived firsthand how the system is failing us, I am that person.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

CommunityEquityProgress

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As an out gay male, who doesn't have health insurance, works in a restaurant, and lives in a financially segregated neighborhood, I know first hand that the systems that our politicians have created in Washington aren't working. I promise to fight to fix those discrepancies that I know so many people in my community are experiencing.

I will work to gain equality for all LGBTQIA+ individuals, work closely toward Universal access to Medicare, fight for a living wage, work on housing and gentrification regulations.

I also plan to help tackle climate change by backing The Green New Deal, assisting immigrants to gain humane and accessible roads to citizenship, and working to end the nationwide racial injustice we see all over this country.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I don't look up to a specific person per se; I look up to people who want something and work to make sure they get it. May that be; a boy from Akron who works to become one of the most successful basketball players or a woman who lost one of the most influential people in her life to sickness and is making sure she can get her feet back on the ground for her family. No matter the outcome, these people have the drive to make themselves and their communities better.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Empathy for your community.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

It is in the title of the job as a representative. To represent your community.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I was in fourth grade when 9/11 happened. But, as many other people can, I can recall the exact location and energy of the room. Even as a fourth-grader. The attack on the twin towers is the earliest memory I have of the constant political conversation in my house growing up.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first job was working as a bowling alley attendant at a fun center in my hometown of Marion, Ohio. I worked this job for about 2 1/2 years.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The U.S. House of Representatives is a fascinating body. It changes so frequently that it is hard to get anything done in the allotted term, yet it is powerful. It is so large as it has representatives from every corner of the country voting for a federal law but is so personal because each representative is there to be the voice of their community.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

No. I have no political experience, and I believe I am the perfect person for the job. I know what the people need and what the people want. But, unfortunately, someone who has been in politics for 22 years is very out of touch with their people, which is the case with my opponent.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Politicians fighting against equal and equitable rights for all people have been very prevalent over the past year. However, unless we get behind policies such as Universal Access to Medicare, Racial Justice, Reproductive Justice, LGBTQIA+ equality, and Financial Equity, the hope for equity and equality will only worsen before it gets better.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

I want to be part of these specific committees and subcommittees to hear firsthand specific legislation and be part of the conversations that will benefit my community.

Appropriations

-Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies

Energy and Commerce

-Environment and Climate Change

Financial Services

- Diversity and Inclusion

- Housing, Community Development and Insurance

Homeland Security

-Border Security, Facilitation and Operations

Judiciary

-Immigration and Citizenship

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Not at all. The term itself needs to be longer. There is barely any time to get anything done because once you become accustomed to the job, you have to start your reelection process.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

To keep the country progressing, we need different views coming into our government at any level periodically.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I believe in my heart that Rep. Cori Bush is in Washinton, D.C, to fight for the people in her district.

That vision I have of her is my vision for myself as the representative I will be.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Absolutely. I sit and talk to people in my community all the time, and from that, we touch on impactful stories naturally.

I live in a financially segregated neighborhood. The houses in my area are worth >$175,000, and homes are being built in my community for <$500.000. Because of the new homes being made, the property taxes are forced to go up and the generations of BIPOC families out of this quiet little neighborhood.

One day, as I am walking to the bus stop to head to work, I hear a neighbor just sobbing on her porch. Her home is directly next door to a new $500,000 build. After we spoke about her anger that developers are coming in and pushing the people out, she told me that after living in the same house for 25 years, her landlord was planning to evict her to sell the house and have it built into something that could never afford.

This was when I knew what I was doing was necessary for the people of my community and for the families who were being worked against.

It is necessary, but when you look at the outcome of the policies presented, as representatives, we have to think about our constituents first. Does this make sense for the people? If yes, then it should be easy to make a compromise.

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