Matt Bradford, candidate for the Pennsylvania State House in the 70th District in central MontgomeryCounty, is no stranger to the issues most affecting working families.In fact, not only does Matt understand the issues confronting our communities—as an attorney, activist and municipal official—Matt has a proven record of fighting for the people of Montgomery County.Furthermore, as a husband and father of two little ones, he knows that the decisions made in Harrisburg today have a real impact on our communities for years to come. That is why Matt will take with him to Harrisburg the lessons he has learned while serving our community. He will fight for us in the State House.
Pictured is Matt with wife Renee, Kate and John Patrick
Matt was raised in nearby ChesterCounty, the youngest of three boys and the proud son of Marguerite and David Bradford.Marguerite served her country in the United States Naval Reserve and, later, her family, as a working mom.Matt’s father, David, though traveling extensively as a salesman while Matt was young, instilled in Matt a deep sense of duty and sacrifice for the betterment of one’s family.
Later, Matt’s parents opened a small family business where Matt frequently worked after school, on weekends and during the summer.From that experience, Matt learned the importance of hard work.While continuing to work to help pay for school, Matt earned his undergraduate and law degrees from VillanovaUniversity.While an undergraduate, Matt was active in numerous charitable organizations as well as a volunteer as a youth basketball coach for the local C.Y.O.In law school, Matt spent the summer working for the General Counsel’s Office of the United Steelworkers Union, the United States Attorney’s Office, as well as a federal district court judge.
After law school, Matt was an associate at the law firm of Drinker Biddle, where he worked in their litigation department. Matt took a leave from his practice when he was appointed municipal administrator and Chief Executive Officer of Norristown Borough, to serve alongside Governor Edward G. Rendell’s special advisor to Norristown, Joseph C. Vignola.
In the wake of a municipal corruption scandal and with a state takeover looming, Matt worked hand in hand with Joe Vignola and the local elected officials to navigate the financially distressed community away from bankruptcy and toward solvency.As a result of uncovering hundreds of thousands of dollars of waste, fraud and abuse, as well as from debt restructuring and contract concessions, Norristown—after nearly a decade of red ink—has seen a return to balanced budgets, a tremendous increase in public and private investment and massive improvements in public services.
Currently, Matt works at a municipal law firm and assists our local public officials in confronting the pressing policy issues that are most affecting our families and communities.In his current role as solicitor for several MontgomeryCounty communities and a school board, Matt has found another outlet to serve, while advocating for better schools, better jobs and stronger communities.
Matt resides in WorcesterTownship with his college sweetheart and wife, Renee, and their quickly growing family.Renee, having worked for an international trading company after graduating from Villanova, is currently a full-time mom and is busy raising Matt and Renee’s two beautiful children, Katherine Sophia (“Kate”) (3 years old) and John Patrick (“Jack”) (16 mos. old).
