SPOTLIGHT RACE: Matt Blake for IA-SD22
Matt Blake has dedicated his life to his family and to public service.
A South Dakota native, Matt attended Drake University Law School and fell in love with Iowa. Matt and his wife chose Urbandale to start and raise their family. Growing up in a small, rural town, Matt knows the importance of a tight-knit community built on supporting others. Within a year, Matt was already deeply involved in the community, organizing the annual Fourth of July Parade. The same year, the committee made him President of the Fourth of July Celebration. Matt has helped organize the Celebration ever since.
After law school, Matt joined the Iowa Army National Guard and serves as a Judge Advocate (JAG). Matt, by then promoted to Captain, deployed to the Middle East with Operation Inherent Resolve where he served in both Kuwait and Iraq.
In 2019, Matt decided to take his service in Urbandale to the next level. He won a seat on the City Council, earning first place in a seven-way race. On the Council Matt has focused on lifting up all
members of the community and making Urbandale a premier location to live in the metro. Without raising the property tax levy on hard working Urbandale resident, Matt led on initiatives such as:
Economic development and support of small business
Green and solar initiatives throughout the community and the introduction of urban farming
Paid family leave for city staff
Expanding the fire and police department
Establishing the first human services budget
Development of the Crisis Intervention Team within the police department to respond to mental health or substance abuse crisis
Community focused events, such as Party in the Park and Miracle on 86th Street.
Matt, his wife Alaina, and their two children live in Urbandale. Alaina is a Waukee-based Optometrist.
https://www.mattblakeforiowa.com/