Born and Raised in Bethel Park
Matt Smith was born and raised in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania where he attended John McMillan Elementary School and Independence Middle School. He grew up playing baseball with the Bethel Baseball Association (BBA). He is a 1991 graduate of Bethel Park High School, where he was a two-sport letterman in baseball and basketball. Matt is the son of the late James and Janice Smith who also were born and raised in the South Hills. Jim was born and raised in Mt. Lebanon and attended South Hills Catholic High School (now Seton-LaSalle). Janice was born and raised in Mt. Lebanon and attended Mt. Lebanon High School. Matt and his wife Eileen reside in Mt. Lebanon with their two daughters, Delaney and Emerson.
College and Law School Education
In 1995, Matt graduated from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. In 1996, Matt began law school at the Duquesne University School of Law. While at Duquesne, Matt served on the Duquesne Law Review. Matt received several academic awards while attending law school at Duquesne, including awards for achieving the highest first-year grades in Contracts and Torts. Matt was also the recipient of the John J. Sciullo Endowment Fund Scholarship at Duquesne.
Counsels and Represents Employees and Small Businesses
In 1999, Matt began work as an attorney at the law firm of Babst, Calland, Clements, and Zomnir, P.C. in Pittsburgh. Matt counsels and litigates on behalf of employers and employees, including many family-owned and small businesses, in all aspects of the employment relationship, from hiring through separation. He regularly advises clients on employment discrimination issues and rights, disability accommodation, Family & Medical Leave Act compliance and rights, employee handbooks, wage and hour issues, employment agreements, and severance agreements.
Active in the Community
Matt is very engaged in the Greater Pittsburgh community. Matt was the law firm's Pro Bono Coordinator and focused his efforts on facilitating legal representation for individuals in the context of unemployment compensation hearings and landlord-tenant disputes. Matt served on the Mt. Lebanon Hospital Authority Board until 2009. Matt is also a former board member of Neighborhood Legal Services Association (NLSA). He served on the Transition Team for Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato from November 2003 through June 2004. He is a past member of the Pittsburgh Human Resources Association (PHRA) and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). In 2005, he earned Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute.
Elected and Re-Elected to State Legislature
In 2006, Matt was elected with nearly 59% of the vote in the 42nd Legislative District and was sworn in on January 2, 2007. Matt has led the fight in Harrisburg to reduce the size of the General Assembly. In addition, Matt has spearheaded the bipartisan effort to cut the General Assembly budget by 20% so that it is run more efficiently and effectively. Matt's bill to provide tax credits for green building in Pennsylvania unanimously passed the House of Representatives in early 2008 and he continues to push for policies that are both pro-growth and pro-environment.
In 2008, Matt was re-elected with nearly 67% of the vote. Over his second term in the Legislature, he has continued to fight for his constituents and against the status quo and party leadership where necessary. He has pushed for reform in Harrisburg such as reducing the size of the Legislature, delivering educational opportunities for our children, and aggressive actions to create jobs and grow our economy.
In 2008, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette stated that Matt is a "conscientious reformer in the Legislature" and that Matt demonstrated "the kind of leadership that has been lacking in Harrisburg."
Matt and his wife Eileen are parishioners at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Mt. Lebanon.
