About Matt

Matt Jones is a lifelong Onondaga County resident who has spent his career serving the people and communities that shaped him. Born and raised here, Matt is the son of two hardworking middle-class parents, Mike and Kathy, who often worked multiple jobs at a time — Mike as a copier technician and Kathy as an LPN — to keep their family secure and give their children a chance at something better. Their example of sacrifice, grit, and perseverance guides Matt’s work to this day.

A proud graduate of our public schools, Matt began his higher education at Onondaga Community College as a first-generation college student before earning a degree in Political Science from SUNY Oswego and a master’s in Adolescent Education from Fayetteville State University. He completed two tours of national service through AmeriCorps and went on to teach middle school Social Studies in inner-city schools, where he was recognized as a Beginner Teacher of the Year during his first year in the classroom.

Matt’s commitment to public service has taken many forms. He served as a labor organizer with the North Carolina Association of Educators, advocating for fair working conditions and better resources for students and teachers. He later brought that dedication home to Onondaga County, serving on the Boards of Directors for the Syracuse Northeast Community Center and Liverpool Dollars for Scholars, and stepping up to serve as an elected member of the Liverpool Central School District Board of Education.

Professionally, Matt brings a rare mix of experience across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. He has worked as a business manager in the private sector, taught in the public sector, served on nonprofit boards, and spent eight years working for lawmakers in the New York State Legislature — most recently as Director of Communications for a local Assemblymember. This combination of real-world experience gives him a deep understanding of how government decisions affect working families and what it takes to deliver results that actually make life better.

Onondaga County isn’t just home for Matt — it’s who he is. As the cost of living rises and opportunities shift, Matt is running for County Legislator to make sure that kids growing up today — in the same kind of modest, hardworking homes he did — can build their future right here without being priced out of the community they love.

 Now he’s ready to put his experience to work for the families of the Second District.