Matthew Brown is a Canadian politician who served as the 63rd mayor of London from 2014 to 2018.
Background Brown was born in London, Ontario. He grew up in Woodstock before graduating from the University of Waterloo. He has two sons, named John Brown and Braden Brown.
Mayoralty In the 2014 mayoral race, he defeated runner-up Paul Cheng. Prior to his election to the mayoralty, Brown represented Ward 7 on London City Council.
As mayor, Brown oversaw the planning phase of the Shift bus rapid transit (BRT) network, on which construction began after his term as mayor. The BRT network was a contentious issue during Brown's term as mayor.
In a 2017 episode of the television series Political Blind Date, Brown and Toronto city councillor Giorgio Mammoliti discussed their differing perspectives on the issue of safe injection sites."Political Blind Date series hopes opposites attract, or at least get along". Toronto Star, November 4, 2017.
In April 2018, Brown announced that he would not seek re-election in the upcoming municipal election."London Mayor Matt Brown won't seek a second term". CBC London, April 6, 2018.
Affair On June 14, 2016, he temporarily suspended his duties as mayor following his disclosure of an affair with deputy mayor Maureen Cassidy. The affair drew national attention across Canada. The London Integrity Commissioner issued a report to City Council stating that Matt Brown and Maureen Cassidy violated sections 2.4, 5.1 and 5.1(1)(e) of the Municipal Code of Conduct. In the report the integrity commissioner stated that he "[had] no authority" under current guidelines to demand a resignation or to prevent either officeholder from running for re-election.
Brown announced his return to duties as mayor on June 22, 2016, and on June 23, 2016, attended his first council meeting since the leave."London's Matt Brown, returning to the job in the fallout of an affair with a council colleague, hop-scotched between marriage and magistrating in a surreal city council meeting Thursday". London Free Press, June 24, 2016.
On September 29, 2016, it was reported by CBC News that he had separated from his wife.
Electoral record
2010 Ward 7 Council race
NameVotes%Matt BROWN4,97658.16Walter LONC1,81821.25Phil MCLEOD1,45517.01Justin SAMLAL3073.59Total8,556
2014 mayoral race
NameVotes%Matt BROWN63,84257.75Paul CHENG37,93834.32Joe SWAN4,6234.18Roger CARANCI1,1901.08Arnon KAPLANSKY7000.63Donna KELLEY5430.49Marie MISZCZAK5220.47Steven GARDNER3510.32Jim KOGELHEIDE2760.25Tae Khun HA1120.10Dan LENART1100.10Dennis PERRY1070.10Alexander MAIN870.08Carlos MURRAY760.07Ma'in SINAN740.07Ali Hamadi70.01Total110,551
References