About

Matt Shorraw, 29, was elected as the 20th Mayor of the City of Monessen, PA, and was sworn-in in 2018. He is also the city’s youngest Mayor. Matt hopes to inspire Monessen’s next generation of youth, in order to spark positive change within the City of Monessen, both socially and economically. He also hopes to encourage youth and young adults to stay in their hometown, and tackle the issues there, and throughout the Rust Belt region.  

Matt is a 4th-generation Monessenite and was raised by his Paternal Grandmother, Irene, who instilled in him a love for his city and its history. He is a 2009 graduate of Monessen High School, and a 2015 graduate of California University of Pennsylvania, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science undergraduate degree in Commercial Music Technology. He is currently enrolled in classes at Harvard University, through its extension program, in hopes to attain a Master’s Degree in Government, where he would like to focus on subjects that deal with urban and policy issues.

Mayor Matt’s goals for the City of Monessen, since taking office have been to expose and find an end to systemic corruption within the City of Monessen and its affiliates, by providing transparency to residents, submitting information to state and federal authorities, and working to have individuals held to account. Matt believes that a City with corruption cannot properly move forward.

It is because of this belief that he is also exploring ways to attract new businesses in Monessen that fit the growing technology and green energy sector in Pittsburgh. He is working to change the perception of Monessen, a former steel city, and looking for creative ways to address its issues, including population loss, systematic racism and socio-economic prejudice, job loss, infrastructure issues, and overall public apathy.

Despite these immense challenges, Matt is hopeful for Monessen’s future and believes the city has great potential to reinvent itself.

Matt is proud to live in Monessen and be a part of this wonderful community. Like many other Monessen residents, he is ready to help spark positive progress in Monessen. As the late Mayor Hugo Parente once said, “This is only the beginning of the story of Monessen, where there are many things yet to be accomplished.”