Matt Zone

Matt Zone is a former Cleveland, Ohio city councilman. He was president of the National League of Cities. Zones serves as the senior vice president and director of Thriving communities. He is a member of the United States Democratic Party.

Matt Zone speaks to Swedish Radio about urban sustainability initiatives in Cleveland (2012)

Early life and education

Zone was born in Cleveland, Ohio to Michael and Mary Zone.

He graduate from Cleveland State University's College of Urban Affairs.^[1]

Career

Zone was elected as a Cleveland City Councilman in 2001. He represented Ward 15 for nearly two decades before resigning in 2020^[2] to become a senior VP at the Western Reserve Land Conservancy's Thriving Communities program in Northeast Ohio.^[3]

In 2017, he served as President of the National League of Cities.^[4]

He is the former past President of the Northeast Ohio City Council Association (NOCCA).^[5]

Personal life

Zone and Michelle have one son, who is a detective with the Cleveland Police.^[5] Zone's older sister, Peggy Fisher, is the wife of former Ohio Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher. His younger sister, Melissa, is an activist and urban planner in Florida.^{[citation needed]} His cousin Joseph is a Cleveland Municipal Court judge.