Meet Matt
Matt Lesser is the Democratic candidate for State Representative in the 100th District of Connecticut, including Middlefield, Durham, Rockfall and parts of Middletown (South Farms, Westfield and Wesleyan Hills).
A bright and energetic leader with a progressive vision for the future of our towns, Matt is passionate about funding education, reforming Connecticut's highest-in-the-nation property tax system, expanding support for renewable energy, and protecting our open spaces.
Growing up the son of a small business owner and an immigrant to the United States, Matt Lesser quickly learned the value of hard work. Matt first came to view public service as a way to make change in people's lives working for the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia. He worked in some of the poorest neighborhoods of Washington fighting slumlords, abusive spouses, and dysfunctional bureaucracies. Matt learned how difficult it can be for one person, no matter how hard-working or how well-meaning, to create meaningful change without effective government leadership.
That's why, at an early age, Matt dedicated himself to electing effective government leaders, and quickly proved himself as one.
In 2004, Matt went to work for the Democratic National Committee, working to help Senator John Kerry and other Democrats campaigning for office across the country. Directing an office with a staff of 50, Matt ran a grassroots fundraising effort in five New England states that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in small contributions from 11,000 different people. Despite his experience with fundraising, Matt has turned his back on the special interests by seeking public financing from Connecticut's new Citizen's Election Program.
In 2006, Matt, as a full time student at Wesleyan and President of the College Democrats of Connecticut, organized the largest student voter mobilization drive in the country. He hired staff and organized students across the state, increasing voter turnout by nearly 700% at the University of Connecticut. Student voters changed the outcome of one Connecticut congressional election, electing Congressman Joe Courtney and helping Democrats take control of Congress.
In 2007, Matt was elected to Middletown's Planning and Zoning Commission with a platform of open space preservation and environmental protection, winning more votes than any other candidate for any office in the City. Dedicated to preserving the character and community of Middletown, Matt has fought for smart growth, for air pollution controls and against a plan to build an Army base in the middle of the largest contiguous forest remaining on the lower Connecticut River.
Matt has worked on behalf of Senator Dodd and Senator Obama and interned at the Brookings Institution Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy.
Matt has fought for political candidates who exemplify effective leadership at the local, state and national levels.
Matt hopes to bring that kind of leadership to Connecticut's 100th District.
Matt lives in the South Farms section of Middletown and works as Executive Director of an organization working to increase opportunities for young people interested in public service and sits on several boards and commissions.
The 100th District contains all of Middlefield, Rockfall and Durham, and the Westfield, Westlake, South Farms, and Wesleyan Hills neighborhoods of Middletown.