Councilman Matt Zone grew up in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood on Cleveland’s near west side and was elected to office in November of 2001. Councilman Zone chairs Cleveland City Council’s Public Utilities Committee and is a member of the Planning and Community & Economic Development Committees.  

 

Councilman Zone is recognized nationally, regionally and locally as a leader on environmental and arts & cultural issues.  Currently, he serves as the Vice-Chair of the National League of Cities - Energy, Environment and Natural Resource committee. Regionally, Councilman Zone is the President of the Northeast Ohio City Council Association (NOCCA) and one of the original members of the Great Lakes Energy Development Task Force, which is working to create off-shore wind generation in Lake Erie. He also serves on the steering committee of the Regional Prosperity Initiative (RPI) which is working to create a “Smart Growth” plan and “Revenue Sharing” for Northeast Ohio. 

 

Locally, Councilman Zone continues to be a tireless advocate for alternative energy and green building, by evidence of the fact that his ward is home to the only EcoVillage in our state and first in the country. The EcoVillage is complete with a LEED built school, theatre and certified Regional Transit Authority (RTA) rapid station, highly energy efficient homes that heat & cool for less then $500 annually and has a model storm water demonstration project on 25 acre city recreational facility.

As a devoted supporter of the arts, Councilman Zone believes the arts and culture community can serve as an economic engine.  He has been the driving force behind the development of the Gordon Square Arts District which is comprised of new housing and businesses, retail development and the construction and renovation of three theaters.   Councilman Zone also sponsored the City of Cleveland's "Percent for Arts" legislation, which requires all applicable capital improvement projects over $350,000 to set aside 1.5% of the total budget to include artists in their design.

Councilman Zone is a graduate of Cleveland State University’s College of Urban Affairs and graduate of St. Edward High School. He has been married to his wife Michelle for 19 years and they have a son who is enrolled at Kent State University.