Matt Knickerbocker’s life in public service didn’t begin with a title, but with a belief that government, at its best, is deeply personal. It’s about roads you drive every day, schools your children walk into, and neighbors who count on someone to show up when it matters. For more than three decades, Matt has shown up.

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A longtime resident of Western Connecticut, Matt has spent fifty years building roots in the same communities he now fights to represent. In Bethel, where he and his wife Adrienne raised their family, his public service began in the schools at a time when confidence in the district was shaken and its future uncertain. As a member, and later chair, of the Board of Education, Matt helped lead a turnaround: revamping the curriculum, rebuilding trust with families, and ensuring that students once again had the opportunities they deserved.

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When Matt took office as First Selectman of Bethel in 2009, he inherited a town facing stalled projects and strained finances. Over the next thirteen years, he built a record we can be proud of. He tackled long-delayed infrastructure projects, strengthened Bethel’s financial footing to earn a top-tier bond rating, and expanded services for residents who needed them most. From rebuilding roads and water systems to investing in senior and youth programs, Matt approached each challenge with a steady hand and a clear understanding that, run right, local government can be what brings us together.

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That same steady leadership carried through moments of crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Matt ensured Bethel residents had clear information, access to care, and a sense that their local government was present and responsive in a time of fear and uncertainty.

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Beyond Bethel, Matt’s work has shaped policy and collaboration across Connecticut. As a leader in organizations like the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities and Chair of the Housatonic Resource Recovery Authority, he’s brought towns together to solve shared challenges—whether in infrastructure, environmental sustainability, or fiscal responsibility. His career has been defined by consensus-building in high-pressure moments, grounded in the belief that progress is possible when our leaders bring us together.

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Professionally trained with a Master’s in Public Administration and seasoned by experience in both the public and private sectors, Matt combines technical expertise with a practical understanding of how decisions affect our lives. But ask those who know him, and they’ll tell you his greatest strength isn’t his resume—it’s his commitment.

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Today, as a father of two and grandfather of four, that commitment feels even more urgent. Matt Knickerbocker is running for state Senate to take the next step in his career of service. He believes the role demands integrity, honesty, and a willingness to put people ahead of partisanship. After decades of delivering for his community, he’ll be ready on Day One to bring that same grounded, results-driven leadership to Hartford—and to restore a sense of trust in the office he seeks to hold.