By Kerry Lamson, Candidate for Town of Matthews Board of Commissioners
I was encouraged to run for a position on the Matthews Town Board by incumbents from both major parties—and that support has made it both rewarding and challenging to maintain relationships throughout this campaign.
Running for local office as an independent candidate isn’t just a personal choice—it’s a commitment to putting residents first. In a political landscape defined by party labels, staying unaffiliated can feel like walking a tightrope. You want to collaborate and find common ground, but you also have to stay true to your independence and keep the focus where it belongs: serving the people of Matthews.
Many of the issues I care about—responsible growth, housing affordability, safer streets, and support for families and local businesses—are shared priorities across party lines. The two major parties often see things differently, and that’s fine, but too often the labels come before the solutions. Being independent allows me to focus on what unites us: public safety, fiscal responsibility, infrastructure, and a family-friendly community.
These last few weeks have tested that approach. Early voting has begun, and I recently learned that some campaign materials by a major party and others using my name and likeness were created without my review—and without noting that I’m independent.
I also discovered that what I believed was a personal show of support from several former town mayors was, in fact, funded through the Matthews First PAC. After reviewing the PAC’s filings, I learned that significant developer interests have contributed to its efforts. While these contributions are legal, the situation was misleading, and I returned the donation in full to avoid any appearance of influence or conflict.
That’s not how I believe Matthews should work. I’m running to represent residents — not developers, not PACs, and not anyone seeking special treatment. I am publicly distancing myself from the Matthews First PAC and from any individuals who knowingly facilitated developer influence in this election.
I want to make this clear: no endorsement, contribution, or campaign material from that PAC reflects my values or my campaign’s direction. My focus remains on responsible growth, housing affordability, and transparent, resident-driven leadership that puts Matthews first.
I’ve said all along that I’m not a politician—I’m a problem solver—and that mindset has guided me through these challenges. At the end of the day, my focus is simple: listen to residents, tackle real issues, and make decisions based on facts and common sense—not politics. The issues I’ve just mentioned arose not from a lack of principle, but from my inexperience navigating a political climate—something I’ve learned from and will carry forward in service to the community.
Independence isn’t a burden—it’s a responsibility. And as we head into the final days before the election, that responsibility is clearer than ever: public service is about people, not politics.
I’ve learned one thing for certain—when you’re an independent candidate “walking that line”, you need to be careful where you step! But staying true to that balance is worth it, because it keeps the focus where it belongs: on the residents of Matthews and the community we’re all working to strengthen.
Thank you for your trust, your questions, your encouragement, and your belief that local government should work for everyone.
— Kerry Lamson
Candidate for Matthews Town Board