Eric's Story

Bozeman native Eric Matthews is a proud and vested member of our community. He is a graduate of Bozeman High School (1992) and Montana State University, where he earned two degrees. He taught at Chief Joseph Middle School for 25 years, and now works to support Bozeman’s educators. He also tended bar at the Haufbrau for a decade. He knows what makes Bozeman the great place that it is. 

Eric has been an active leader in the school district for more than 25 years, helping to negotiate contracts for educators and supporting fair wages for school staff. He has served as Vice President of the Bozeman Education Association for 8 years and is currently the President of the Bozeman Education Association. He has experience in consensus building and problem solving, which is critical for serving in the State Legislature. 

In 2018, Eric joined the board of Montana’s largest workers union, Montana Federation of Public Employees (MFPE), to advocate for working folks across Montana. In 2021, he was elected to serve as first Vice President of MFPE. 

In 2022, Eric was elected to represent House District 66 in Bozeman. During his two sessions in the State Legislature, he has championed workers’ rights, pushed for increased investments in public schools, fought off misguided attacks on public education, and fought for solutions to the affordability crisis in Montana. After his first two sessions, Eric is ready to continue working hard to make Montana a place we all want to live.