Matthew Conner

Matthew Conner is the Managing Principal at Arete Public Affairs, specializing in public and government affairs and strategic business development. Ranked 30th among Capitol Inside's Top Hired Guns and recognized as the Top Education Lobbyist of 2024 by the Texas Lobby Guide, Matthew brings extensive experience across federal, state, and local government, as well as political campaigns. His career is defined by strategic leadership, driving impactful advancements in various policy areas through innovative advocacy and effective legislative strategies.Matthew's professional career spans over a decade, during which he has held numerous influential roles in government and politics. Before joining Arete Public Affairs, Matthew served as the Director of Government Relations for the Houston Independent School District (HISD), which is the largest school district in Texas with nearly 200,000 students and 27,000 plus staff members. In this role, he worked closely with elected officials and their staff at the federal, state, and local levels to develop and implement advocacy efforts, establish legislative priorities, and analyze legislative proposals. Under his leadership, HISD was able to secure millions of dollars in funding from the federal and state government for critical programs and initiatives.Prior to joining HISD, Matthew served as the District Director for United States Representative Michael McCaul (TX-10) and as the Deputy Regional Director for Southeast Texas for United States Senator John Cornyn. He has also worked on political campaigns, including serving as the Houston Area Field Director for the Glenn Hegar Campaign for Texas Comptroller and as a Field Representative for the Greg Abbott Campaign for Texas Governor.He earned his Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Houston. He is a Senior Fellow in Class 63 of the American Leadership Forum and a member of Leadership Houston Class XLIV. In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors for Texas CASA, supporting advocacy for children and youth in foster care.Matthew lives in the Houston area with his wife, Fiorella, and their two children, George and Hannah.