ABOUT MATT
Matt Keating and his wife Becca live in Southeast Eugene with Vegas, their 13-year old Great Dane (possibly the oldest living Great Dane in the country). Both Becca and Matt enjoy baseball games, Scrabble, and road trips to the Oregon Coast.
The Keatings' family and friends have lived in South Eugene for generations. Back in the early 90's Matt spent summers floating down the Willamette River, taking fishing trips with Aunt Pat, and visiting with his Uncle Dave, Aunt Linda, and cousins on Kingswood Ave., Eugene.
"My summer visits with cousins Chris, Scott, Brian, and Kevin helped shape my love for Oregon's outdoors and the vast beauty of our state," Matt recalls. He still has his first fishing license from 1992!
Matt is the oldest of three brothers: Michael, 44, practices law and Mark, 35, is a budget analyst. Matt is Godfather and uncle to two boys and three girls -- the youngest of which is only four months old.
Among Matt's proudest accomplishments as Eugene City Councilor is saving the funding to Greenhill Humane Society (2023). Matt is grateful for his constituents' vigilance, Greenhill's staff for their clear communication, and the collaboration of City staff and Council colleagues for supporting his proposal to restore $450k of Greenhill's operating budget. His late four-legged friends Noobs, Bruno, and Jem, were on top of mind during that particular budget battle and Matt is thrilled to have played a part in rescuing such a vital funding stream for our animals most in need.
By banning fireworks, in Matt's first term he significantly reduced the risk of wildfire in the South Hills. He also collaborated with colleagues to prevent the cuts to a local fire station (fire station #8). As such, he is proud to earn the endorsement of our area's first responders -- the Lane Professional Firefighters: Local 851.
When not on City Council Matt serves as Chief of Staff to State Senator James Manning. He also serves on the board of directors of the Democratic Municipal Officials and the KLCC Public Radio Foundation Board. Twice elected to represent Oregon as a member of the Democratic National Committee, Matt is also a state Democratic Party Office and member of the DPO Administration Committee. Locally, he is a proud Democratic Party of Lane County Precinct Committee Person (precinct 1234). He is the only candidate exclusively endorsed by both the Democratic Party of Lane County and the Oregon Working Families Party.
Matt can be reached at 541-515-3819. Please feel free to call or text.
ABOUT MATT
Matthew K. Keating, his partner Rebecca, and Vegas the Great Dane live in South Eugene, just off Willamette St. across from Rest-Haven Funeral Home. Both Becca and Matt enjoy baseball games (go Ems!), Scrabble, and road trips to the Oregon Coast.
Matt and Becca's family and friends have lived in South Eugene for generations. Back in the early 90's Matt spent summers floating down the Willamette River and taking fishing trips with his Aunt Pat, Uncle Dave, Aunt Linda, and cousins on Kingswood Ave., Eugene.
"My summer visits with cousins Chris, Scott, Brian, and Kevin helped shape my love for Oregon's outdoors and the vast beauty of our state," Matt recalls.
Matt is the oldest of three Keating brothers: Michael, 39, practices law and Mark, 30, is a budget analyst. Matt is Godfather and uncle to two boys and two girls and a proud "dog dad" to an 8-year old adopted rescue pooch known as "Vegas."
Remembering his late four-legged friends Noobs, Bruno, and Jem, Matt poignantly references his favorite comedian's keen observation: Life is a series of dogs. -George Carlin
EDUCATION
Matt studied Radio-Television-Film at San Jose State University, Political Science and Oceanography at MiraCosta College in San Diego, and Theatre Arts at Lane Community College. At Lane, he received Faculty Recognition as Music/Dance/Theatre Arts Student of the Year (2005-06). Matt was a "Shining Star" scholarship recipient, Phi Theta Kappa student, founder of the Lane Student Democrats, and president of the Theatre Arts Department's Student Productions Association (SPA).
Notably, as SPA president Matt rallied Lane's theatrical troupe to partner with FOOD for Lane County and the Lane Memorial Blood Center (now the Lane Blood Center). Their mission was to offer complimentary theatrical performance tickets to LCC patrons who donated nonperishable food items or pints of blood. The partnership paid off with both The Register-Guard and The Eugene Weekly covering the SPA's stellar win-win work.
"Embracing these partnerships," Matt remarks, "Our students performed their art for reasons far greater than simply staging a show — we were giving back to our community."
At the conclusion of Matt's term as SPA president, his team built an enormous amount of community goodwill for the Theatre Arts Department's SPA of Lane Community College. Capitalizing on that goodwill, Matt crafted a $0.50/student per term Student Activities Fee to permanently support the department's student-driven theatrical endeavor. This successful on-campus ballot measure has resulted in critical funding for several SPA presentations as well as providing scores of scholarships to Lane's Theatre Arts students.
Matt's experience organizing the community-collegiate theatre group at Lane shaped his worldview in regards to organizing. "We didn't always agree on the details," Matt recalls, "But we were singularly focused on the mission: preserve LCC's theatre arts opportunities for future Lane students. Fundamentally, if you can organize a group of students, alumni, nonprofit organizations and the community at-large to recognize their shared values and collective desire, you can achieve anything."
PERFORMANCE AND PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
Matt's professional background ranges from performance art to more than ten years radio experience as a major-market announcer/on-air personality. He has worked behind the mic at legendary radio stations such as 91X-San Diego, The New Mix 95.9/KXMX-Anaheim, and 93.3 KTCL-Denver.
Matt has performed in a multitude of local theatrical presentations including plays at Eugene's Very Little Theater (VLT), children's theatre in "The Magical Moombah" at the John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts, and several Shakespearian productions at Lane Community College and Free Shakespeare in the Park.
Matt has also experienced more than a dozen election cycles as a political organizer, digital campaign consultant, and field manager working to elect Democrats up and down the ticket.
He currently works at Cumulus Media in Eugene, providing terrestrial radio services and digital marketing solutions for nonprofit, for-profit, and political clients.
EDUCATION
Matt studied Radio-Television-Film at San Jose State University, Political Science and Oceanography at MiraCosta College in San Diego, and Theatre Arts at Lane Community College. At Lane, he received Faculty Recognition as Music/Dance/Theatre Arts Student of the Year (2005-06). Matt was a "Shining Star" scholarship recipient, Phi Theta Kappa student, founder of the Lane Student Democrats, and president of the Theatre Arts Department's Student Productions Association (SPA).
Notably, as SPA president Matt rallied Lane's theatrical troupe to partner with FOOD for Lane County and the Lane Memorial Blood Center (now the Lane Blood Center). Their mission was to offer complimentary theatrical performance tickets to LCC patrons who donated nonperishable food items or pints of blood. The partnership paid off with both The Register-Guard and The Eugene Weekly covering the SPA's stellar win-win work.
"Embracing these partnerships," Matt remarks, "Our students performed their art for reasons far greater than simply staging a show — we were giving back to our community."
At the conclusion of Matt's term as SPA president, his team built an enormous amount of community goodwill for the Theatre Arts Department's SPA of Lane Community College. Capitalizing on that goodwill, Matt crafted a $0.50/student per term Student Activities Fee to permanently support the department's student-driven theatrical endeavor. This successful on-campus ballot measure has resulted in critical funding for several SPA presentations as well as providing scores of scholarships to Lane's Theatre Arts students.
Matt's experience organizing the community-collegiate theatre group at Lane shaped his worldview in regards to organizing. "We didn't always agree on the details," Matt recalls, "But we were singularly focused on the mission: preserve LCC's theatre arts opportunities for future Lane students. Fundamentally, if you can organize a group of students, alumni, nonprofit organizations and the community at-large to recognize their shared values and collective desire, you can achieve anything."
PERFORMANCE AND PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
Matt's professional background ranges from performance art to more than ten years radio experience as a major-market announcer/on-air personality. He has worked behind the mic at legendary radio stations such as 91X-San Diego, The New Mix 95.9/KXMX-Anaheim, and 93.3 KTCL-Denver.
Matt has performed in a multitude of local theatrical presentations including plays at Eugene's Very Little Theater (VLT), children's theatre in "The Magical Moombah" at the John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts, and several Shakespearian productions at Lane Community College and Free Shakespeare in the Park.
Matt has also experienced more than a dozen election cycles as a political organizer, digital campaign consultant, and field manager working to elect Democrats up and down the ticket.
He currently works at Cumulus Media in Eugene, providing terrestrial radio services and digital marketing solutions for nonprofit, for-profit, and political clients.
POLITICAL & VOLUNTEER WORK
Dedicated to fighting for workers' rights, women's rights, equity, access, living-wage jobs, and debt-free higher education, Matt represents area voters as a member of the Lane Community College Board of Education (2013-present). He chairs the LCC Board’s Business Affairs Committee, serves as Vice Chair of the LCC Board, and is LCC’s liaison to the KLCC Public Radio Foundation Board of Directors.
Supporters of the Eugene Public Library may recognize Matt from his advocacy of and service to the Eugene Public Library Foundation Board and the Imagination Library Advisory Committee, a local organization committed to providing free age-appropriate books mailed to young readers ages four and under.
Matt also represents Oregon Democrats as a National Committeeman to the Democratic National Committee (2017-present). He is an active member of the DNC's Western Regional Caucus and the DNC's LGBT Caucus. Locally, Matt serves House District 8 Democrats as a precinct committee-person, former HD8 Chair, former Democratic 4th Congressional District Chair, and grassroots volunteer with the Democratic Party of Lane County (DPLC).
The teams Matt has managed, the volunteers he has trained, and his nationally-recognized organizing abilities have made a positive difference in rural and urban communities across Lane County and throughout our country — especially in states such as Iowa, Illinois, Florida, Wisconsin, Montana, California, Nevada, and Oregon.
POLITICAL & VOLUNTEER WORK
Dedicated to fighting for workers' rights, women's rights, equity, access, living-wage jobs, and debt-free higher education, Matt represents area voters as a member of the Lane Community College Board of Education (2013-present). He chairs the LCC Board’s Business Affairs Committee, serves as Vice Chair of the LCC Board, and is LCC’s liaison to the KLCC Public Radio Foundation Board of Directors.
Supporters of the Eugene Public Library may recognize Matt from his advocacy of and service to the Eugene Public Library Foundation Board and the Imagination Library Advisory Committee, a local organization committed to providing free age-appropriate books mailed to young readers ages four and under.
Matt also represents Oregon Democrats as a National Committeeman to the Democratic National Committee (2017-present). He is an active member of the DNC's Western Regional Caucus and the DNC's LGBT Caucus. Locally, Matt serves House District 8 Democrats as a precinct committee-person, former HD8 Chair, former Democratic 4th Congressional District Chair, and grassroots volunteer with the Democratic Party of Lane County (DPLC).
The teams Matt has managed, the volunteers he has trained, and his nationally-recognized organizing abilities have made a positive difference in rural and urban communities across Lane County and throughout our country — especially in states such as Iowa, Illinois, Florida, Wisconsin, Montana, California, Nevada, and Oregon.