Matthew Harper

Matthew M. Harper is an American politician from California. Harper is a former Republican member of California State Assembly for District 74, encompassing the coastal Orange County communities of Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Irvine, Laguna Woods, and Laguna Beach. Prior to being elected to the State Assembly, Harper is also a former Mayor of Huntington Beach, California.[1]

Matthew Harper
59th Mayor of Huntington Beach, California
In office
2013–2014
Preceded byDonald F. Hansen
Succeeded byJim Katapodis
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 74th district
In office
December 1, 2014 – November 30, 2018
Preceded byAllan Mansoor
Succeeded byCottie Petrie-Norris
Personal details
Born (1974-06-27) June 27, 1974
Long Beach, California
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Elizabeth Byrne
ResidenceHuntington Beach, California
Alma materUniversity of Southern California
OccupationReal estate broker, politician
WebsiteVoteMatthewHarper.com

Harper was first elected to the State Assembly in 2014, and was re-elected in 2016. He sought a third term in 2018, but was defeated by Democrat Cottie Petrie-Norris.

Early life

Harper was born in Long Beach, California and lived briefly in Colorado, but grew up in Westminster and Huntington Beach.[2] He is a graduate of Huntington Beach High School.

Education

Harper attended Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California. Harper earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Policy and Management from USC in Los Angeles, California.[3]

Career

Harper was first elected to the Huntington Beach Union High School District (HBUHSD) in 1998,[4] re-elected with the most votes in 2002,[5] and named to an uncontested third term in 2006. There are five governing board members, or trustees, that are each elected at-large by HBUHSD voters. The HBUHSD serves the secondary education needs of the Orange County communities of Huntington Beach, most of Westminster, most of Fountain Valley, a portion of Garden Grove and all of unincorporated Midway City. Four separate feeder elementary school districts serve the primary education needs of the territory served by the HBUHSD. High schools in the district include: Huntington Beach High School, Westminster High School, Marina High School, Fountain Valley High School, Edison High School, Ocean View High School, Valley Vista High School, Coast High School, Community Day School, and Huntington Beach Adult School.

After completing his third term on the HBUHSD Board of Trustees, on November 2, 2010, Harper was elected to become a member of city council for Huntington Beach, California. [6] Harper's campaign platform included public safety, infrastructure, economic development, administrative and fiscal accountability, property rights, personal freedom and opposition to higher taxes.[7] In 2012, Harper was chosen by the mayors of the Second District to the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors.[8]

In 2013, Harper became the 59th Mayor of Huntington Beach, California, until 2014.[3][9]

As Mayor, Harper worked to complete the Vans Skate Park,[10] broke ground on a new senior center,[11] and sought to repeal several laws, including the 1987 ban on state-approved fireworks. In his four years on the Huntington Beach City Council, Harper "built a reputation as conservative, pro-business and unafraid.[12]"

From 2007–2011, Harper served as a policy advisor and deputy chief of staff to then-Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen. In 2011, Harper served as an appointee to the five-member Orange County Redistricting Committee.[13]

For two years, Harper was the elected Chairman for the Young Republican Federation of California (YRFC) and served on their state board for over ten years. Locally, Harper has been elected to several terms to the Orange County Republican Party Central Committee.[14] Harper has served on the executive committee for the OCGOP. Statewide, Harper served as the elected Associate Representative to the California Republican Party. As Associate Representative, Harper was an ex-officio member of the state platform committee. In 2014, he was elected to the California State Assembly, defeating Newport Beach Mayor Keith Curry, a fellow Republican. Assemblyman Matthew Harper continues as a delegate to the California Republican Party.[15]

Election History

2014 California State Assembly
California's 74th State Assembly district election, 2014
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Keith Curry 17,013 27.6
Republican Matthew Harper 15,309 24.9
Democratic Anila Ali 11,978 19.5
Democratic Karina Onofre 9,310 15.1
Republican Emanuel Patrascu 7,933 12.9
Total votes 61,543 100.0
General election
Republican Matthew Harper 60,070 59.5
Republican Keith Curry 40,896 40.5
Total votes 100,966 100.0
Republican hold

2016 California State Assembly
California's 74th State Assembly district election, 2016
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Karina Onofre 46,077 42.4
Republican Matthew Harper (incumbent) 42,317 38.9
Republican Katherine Daigle 20,258 18.6
Total votes 108,652 100.0
General election
Republican Matthew Harper (incumbent) 114,477 56.2
Democratic Karina Onofre 89,362 43.8
Total votes 203,839 100.0
Republican hold

2018 California State Assembly
California's 74th State Assembly district election, 2018
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matthew Harper (incumbent) 46,500 41.6
Democratic Cottie Petrie-Norris 31,626 28.3
Democratic Karina Onofre 13,536 12.1
Republican Katherine Daigle 12,331 11.0
Democratic Ryan Ta 7,827 7.0
Total votes 111,820 100.0
General election
Democratic Cottie Petrie-Norris 105,699 52.7
Republican Matthew Harper (incumbent) 94,947 47.3
Total votes 200,646 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

Personal life

In 2014, Harper married Elizabeth Byrne. Harper and his family live in Huntington Beach, California.[3][9]

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References
  1. "Mayor Matthew Harper Biography, City of Huntington Beach Official Website". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  2. Carpio, Anthony Clark (December 12, 2013). "New mayor known for strong stands". Huntington Beach Independent. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  3. "Matthew Harper's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  4. "Smartvoter Information for Matthew Harper, Candidate for Huntington Beach Union High School District 1998". Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  5. "Smartvoter Information for Matthew Harper, Candidate for Huntington Beach Union High School District 2002". Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  6. Miller, Michael (September 1, 2010). "First-time candidate favors economic development: Twelve-year trustee with school district calls Beach and Edingers Corridors Specific Plan a key area of revitalization". Huntington Beach Independent. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  7. "Smartvoter Information for Matthew Harper, Candidate for Huntington Beach City Council 2010". Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  8. "OCTA Director Matthew Harper Biography, Orange County Transportation Authority Official Website". Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  9. "Matthew Harper, Republican". joincalifornia.com. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  10. "Huntington Beach, CA skatepark opening".
  11. "Huntington breaks ground on long-awaited new senior center".
  12. "New mayor known for strong stands".
  13. "Orange County Redistricting Committee". Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  14. "Orange County Republican Party". Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  15. "Smartvoter Information for Matthew Harper, Candidate for Republican Party of Orange County Central Committee". Retrieved December 2, 2013.
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