Matt Dolan

This article is about the Ohio politician. For the English football (soccer) player, see Matthew Dolan (footballer).

Matt Dolan
File:Matthew Dolan, February 2016.jpg
Member of the Ohio Senate from the 24th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2017
Preceded by	Tom Patton
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 98th district
In office January 3, 2005-January 19, 2010
Preceded by	Tim Grendell
Succeeded by	Richard Hollington
Personal details
Born	(1965-01-12) January 12, 1965 Cleveland, Ohio
Political party	Republican
Residence	Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Alma mater	Boston College, Case Western Reserve University
Profession	Attorney MLB team owner/executive

Matthew J. Dolan (born January 12, 1965) is an attorney, baseball team owner, and politician currently serving as a member of the Ohio Senate, representing the 24th district which covers the bulk of Cuyahoga County. He is a former member of the Ohio House of Representatives, serving in that body from 2005 to 2010.

Dolan also has a partial ownership stake in the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball alongside his father/principal owner Larry, and older brother/Chairman & CEO Paul. Prior to his election victory in 2016, Matt was part of the team's front office, overseeing the budget and also running the team's charity program.

Early life and law career

Dolan was born and raised in Cleveland and is a graduate of Gilmour Academy, Boston College and Case Western Reserve School of Law. An attorney, Dolan is a former Chief Assistant Prosecutor for Geauga County and Assistant Attorney General for the State of Ohio. Currently, he is a partner at the law firm of Thrasher, Dinsmore & Dolan.

Political career

In 2004, Dolan was elected to represent the 98th District in the Ohio House of Representatives, and was re-elected in 2006 and 2008. He resigned in January 2010 to focus on a run for Cuyahoga County Executive. On November 2, 2010, he lost to Lakewood Mayor, Democrat Ed FitzGerald in the race to become Cuyahoga County Executive.

After taking a break from politics to work in the Indians' front office, in 2016, Dolan opted to make a comeback by running to succeed state Senator Tom Patton, who was term-limited that year after serving in the Senate for over eight years. A competitive seat on paper, the 24th District had been held by Republicans for over thirty years, which created a competitive primary. For the Republican nomination, Dolan faced sitting state Representatives Nan Baker and Mike Dovilla. However, his name recognition and large personal wealth put him over the edge, and he won the nomination with 44% of the vote, to Baker's 29% and Dovilla's 27%.

While the general election was at first deemed competitive, it did not prove to be in the end. Facing Emily Hagan, an assistant county prosecutor and the niece of former Cuyahoga County Commissioner and gubernatorial candidate Tim Hagan, Dolan won with over 58% of the vote. He was sworn into office on January 3, 2017.

External links

• Campaign site
• Official website