Matt Cherry

This page was current at the end of the official's last term in office covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Matt Cherry

Nonpartisan

Prior offices

Toledo City Council District 2

Successor: Adam Martinez

Predecessor: D. Michael Collins

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Report an officeholder change

Education

High school

Bowsher High School

Personal

Birthplace

Toledo, Ohio

Profession

Business Representative

Contact

Campaign website

Matt Cherry was a member of the Toledo City Council in Ohio, representing District 2. Cherry assumed office on January 2, 2014. Cherry left office on January 2, 2024.

Cherry ran for re-election to the Toledo City Council to represent District 2 in Ohio. Cherry won in the general election on November 5, 2019.

Cherry completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.

Though Toledo elections are officially nonpartisan, Cherry is affiliated with the Democratic Party.

Biography

Cherry grew up in Toledo and graduated from Bowsher High School. He studied as an apprentice for five years with the Sheet Metal Workers' Local 33 and began serving as the chapter's business representative in 2011.

Elections

2023

See also: City elections in Toledo, Ohio (2023)

Matt Cherry was not able to file for re-election due to term limits.

2019

See also: City elections in Toledo, Ohio (2019)

General election

General election for Toledo City Council District 2

Incumbent Matt Cherry defeated Abigail Sadowy in the general election for Toledo City Council District 2 on November 5, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Matt Cherry (Nonpartisan)	60.9	4,097
	Submit photo	Abigail Sadowy (Nonpartisan)	39.1	2,625

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,722
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Toledo City Council District 2

Incumbent Matt Cherry and Abigail Sadowy defeated Stefania Czech in the primary for Toledo City Council District 2 on September 10, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Matt Cherry (Nonpartisan)	54.5	986
✔	Submit photo	Abigail Sadowy (Nonpartisan)	31.8	576
		Stefania Czech (Nonpartisan)	13.7	247

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,809
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2015

See also: Toledo, Ohio municipal elections, 2015

The city of Toledo, Ohio, held elections for mayor and city council on November 3, 2015. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was July 21, 2015. In the District 2 race, incumbent Matt Cherry defeated Drew D. Blazsik in the general election on November 3, 2015.

Toledo City Council District 2, General election, 2015
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Matt Cherry Incumbent	70.0%	8,350
Drew D. Blazsik	30.0%	3,575
Write-in votes	0%	0
Total Votes		11,925
Source: Lucas County Board of Elections, "Election Summary Results", accessed November 3, 2015

Campaign themes

2019

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Matt Cherry completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Cherry's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a young Democrat in Toledo, Ohio seeking re-election to Toledo City Council. I am currently serving as the District 2 council member and President of council. When I am not fulfilling my duties as a member of council, I work full time as a business agent for Sheet Metal Workers Local 33. I've lived in Toledo my entire life and I take pride as a member of council knowing that I am working to better the community for all. I enjoy spending my free time with my two sons and my amazing wife, Nicole.

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?

• Implementing the newly recognized regionalized water agreement.
• Continuing to develop innovative ways to find money in our budget to improve city infrastructure, mainly repaving residential roadways.
• Working hard to continue for my labor brothers and sisters to get them the fair wages they so deserve.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am always concerned about creating and sustaining a strong labor friendly community in Northwest Ohio is always what I strive to do in every decision that I make. I make great efforts to be fair to all citizens of Toledo, I believe that all people deserve a fair, living wage.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

All city council positions are unique, especially those council members that serve particular districts. We are directly accountable to our portion of the city and it is something that our constituents really rely upon. I take my position very seriously because I feel as though I am a citizen's first line when it comes to making contact with a local public official.

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

I look up to my stepfather, J.D. Riker. He's always been there for me and provided guidance every step of the way in my political career.

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

Integrity, honesty and patience.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I think my open and honest personality is helpful to be successful in this position and has served me well so far.

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

The core responsibility is always making a decision based on the good of all the people.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to be able to be a member of a council that effects lasting change in our community. I believe we are doing that with all of our advancements of the regionalized water agreement and a plan to move forward to make cleaning and preserving our waterways a priority.

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

While it was certainly not the first historical event that happened in my lifetime, but I will never forget how I felt and what I was doing on September 11, 2001. It was one of the most heartbreaking events in our nation's history.

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

I was a newspaper delivery boy for The Toledo Blade for 2.5 years.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Things They Carried - Jim O'Brien
This book is a collection of short stories about young men that served in the Vietnam war. It takes a deeply personal approach to how the war affected these soldiers each individually and without the political overtone that was occurring here at home.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Atticus Finch without a doubt. He was one of the most levelheaded and understanding characters in literature.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Hang on Sloopy!

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Maintaining a positive work life balance has been an issue since the moment I was first elected to office. I am thankful for my supportive wife, family and friends for the unending encouragement and support throughout this journey.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

This job is thought of as a "part-time" position but that is the furthest thing from the truth. The work we do never ends. We are expected to be on call at all times and that can be difficult when you have a full time job and a family to care for. I try my hardest to be available to my constituents as much as possible.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

While it is beneficial, I do not believe that it is required. Some of our most influential and best council members use their life experience or professional experience from their careers to make sound educated policy and decisions.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Patience is imperative. Being a person that others can rely upon and know that they can have a meaningful conversation with someone that will listen before making a decision is a quality that I most admire in my fellow council members.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2015

Cherry's website highlighted the following campaign themes:

Neighborhood safety

• Excerpt: "As a son of a retired Toledo policewoman, Matt understands that safety is a top priority in our neighborhoods and will work with Block Watch to keep us safe."

Better city services

• Excerpt: "Matt will fight for fast-acting and responsive city services. He knows that our hard-earned tax dollars pay for city services – that’s why he won’t tolerate excuses for potholes and broken streets."

Keeping local businesses strong and residents employed

• Excerpt: "Like many people in our neighborhood, Matt knows value of the dollar and how to manage one as well. Following his father’s example, Matt joined the Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 33 and currently holds the position of Business Agent. Matt has a record of putting local people back to work–and he works every day with companies to make sure that Toledoans are on the job."

New leadership for Toledo

• Excerpt: "Matt isn’t a career politician. … He knows that what we do today will have an impact on MJ and all the children in our community. Matt will work tirelessly on our behalf–now and for the future."

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Cherry and his wife, Nicole, were married in 2007 and have a son.

See also

2019 Elections

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External links

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Candidate

Toledo City Council District 2

Website

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by D. Michael Collins	Toledo City Council District 2 2014-2024	Succeeded by Adam Martinez