Matthew Lundh is a father and husband who wears many hats: Small business owner of a digital creative agency, Cle Elum Planning Commissioner, Rotarian, board member, entrepreneur, and church volunteer. But if you were to spend any amount of time with Matthew you would quickly realize that all of the hats he wears have a central purpose:  to make Cle Elum a better place to live.  Sometimes it’s hard to believe he didn’t grow up here but as a transplant myself, I know how quickly and deeply one can fall in love with this town, its people and its values.

Matthew reached out to update his family portraits and for help creating branding images for his upcoming campaign for city council. After our consultation, I was excited to work with him and wanted to share with all of you a bit more about Matthew Lundh and his mission for making Cle Elum an even better place to live.

What attracted your family to this area and what are some of your favorite things to do here?

Growing up, one of my family’s favorite places to go camping was in the Teanaway. I spent a lot of time here camping with the Boy Scouts as well. My wife and I had always said that we wanted to move to Cle Elum because we somehow always ended up here when we decided to escape the city, so we made it a reality. We love to spend time outdoors as a family and our area has endless possibilities for new adventures.

Tell me about your involvement in the community and what lead to your desire to run for this office?

I currently serve on the Cle Elum Planning Commission and the Cle Elum parks committee because I want the community our kids grow up in to be the best it can be. There’s no denying that our city and area is growing, and it’s essential we manage our city’s growth using smart, thoughtful approaches that put current residents and infrastructure first. I’m also a member of the Rotary Club of Upper Kittitas County and a volunteer at Cle Elum Alliance church.

I decided to run for city council because I believe we can do better at enhancing quality of life for all citizens, supporting our local businesses, and making city government more accessible, transparent, and accountable to the people. I believe my personal and professional background make me uniquely qualified to help in these areas.

What would you want voters to know about you?

I want voters to know that I’m here to listen and be an advocate for them and our community. I’m passionate about local government and I want to make sure it works better for everyone. The decisions that are made at city hall are often the ones that have an immediate impact on our lives. As a small business owner, I’m tuned in to ways that government can help businesses grow and succeed – or at the very least not get in the way, and how it can hurt. Most importantly, I’m a father of two young kids and I want to make sure the community they grow up in is the best it can be.

I will do my part to increase accessibility, communication, and transparency by personally utilizing email and social media to keep the citizens of Cle Elum informed about what’s happening with their city government. I’ll announce and hold regular “office hours” in various locations around town and do my best to be responsive starting right now. I plan to knock on every door – at least once – between now and November to meet and listen to voters’ ideas and concerns about the city. I’m also available by phone at 509-201-7402 or email at matthew@matthewlundh.com.

Why Mary Maletzke Photography?

Your reputation in this community is unparalleled in your field. After seeing your work, I had every confidence that you would be able to capture my brand and provide me with excellent results. I was immediately at ease in our first meeting because of the questions you asked, the insight you provided, and how easily you were able to understand what I was looking for – even when I wasn’t entirely sure myself. To top it all off, you had saint-like patience with my rambunctious two-year-old and tired infant during the shoot. As anyone can plainly see on my campaign materials, your photos are what makes it all look so good. Thanks so much!