Who is Matthew Ridenhour, District 5 Republican Mecklenburg County commission candidate?
Political party: Republican
Age as of Nov. 8, 2022: 45
Campaign website: voteridenhour.com
Email: matthew@voteridenhour.com
Occupation: Risk Manager
Education: BA, American Intercontinental University
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought): Yes, served as County Commissioner from 2012-2018
Please list your highlights of civic involvement:
County Commissioner, Founder of Steele Creek Preparatory Academy, Board of Directors for: Preserve Mecklenburg, Charlotte Trail of History, May 20th Society, Huntingtowne Farms Neighborhood Association, SouthPark Swim and Tennis Club. USMC veteran. Eagle Scout.
What more can county government do to help CMS close achievement gaps and support students in impoverished families?
We have to be holistic in how we look at student achievement. It isn’t just what happens in the classroom. It’s whether the child has a full stomach, a safe school, support at home, and good mental health. While the county is limited in what it can do in the classroom, it can, and should, seek ways to partner with CMS to provide ancillary services children need.
How do you plan to collaborate with other local and state elected officials?
By intentionally working with them; too few decisions are made in silos, and that is not good for governance nor for residents. Solving problems such as student achievement, affordable housing, food deserts, and school funding require working with CMS, the city, and the state in order to be most effective. Those who have worked with me both in public and private service know that I am collaborative by nature. I will continue to be so.
How do you plan to approach the county’s upcoming revaluation and how will the results inform your stance on the 2024 fiscal year’s tax rate?
Long-time residents will remember the fiasco of the 2011 revaluation, and that I was one of the key figures instrumental in getting the county to ‘re-do the reval’ in 2012. We were able to return over $100M to taxpayers. I will use the lessons from 2011 to ensure we have a fair, equitable, and transparent revaluation next year. The assessor has stated that property values are up ~45% since 2019. Next year the rate must be significantly lowered in order to keep taxes affordable.
Name a quality about yourself that makes you a good leader:
Where mistakes are made, I take responsibility. Where successes are enjoyed, I lift my team up. I have found most leaders tend to deflect blame, while taking credit for team successes. I believe this fosters resentment and discord within a team.
What one professional or political accomplishment are you most proud of?
I am proud of the massive work it took to defeat the MLS/Memorial Stadium ‘deal’ in 2017. It was going to cost tax payers well over $100M, and there was enormous public pressure to approve the deal. Nevertheless, a minority of us on County Commission worked hard, and, against all odds, were able to defeat the deal. This then freed up money to complete a number of parks projects, as well as a massive renovation of Memorial Stadium at a much lower cost.
This story was originally published October 3, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
