Springfield’s Zone 4 has a new representative on City Council. Matthew Simpson was chosen during a special council meeting Tuesday to fill the seat vacated by Craig Fishel.
Simpson is director of research, strategic planning and grant development at Ozarks Technical Community College. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from MSU and a Master of Arts degree in political science from Vanderbilt University.
Simpson said he decided to apply for the city council position because of his passion for Springfield. He was raised in the city, and he and his wife returned here to start a family (they have a two-year-old son).
"I'd like to do what I can to make this a place where he and all the other children can grow up to love it as much as I do," he said.
He cites as his strengths his experience in research and strategic planning and starting a small business: He and his brother co-founded 5 Pound Apparel.
According to Simpson his approach to decision making is collaborative and informed. "I'm not driven by ideology, not driven by kind of personal agendas, what team I'm on," he said. "My approach is always to work with others and to look at the relevant facts and find the best way to get us to where we want to go on any given issue."
Simpson is the board president for the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools, serves on the Springfield-Greene County Library board of trustees, is a graduate of Leadership Springfield and is a member of the Downtown Springfield Association, Friends of the Zoo and The Network.
