Matt Barrett

Life and career

Barrett is a graduate of Embry Riddle University and of the Cleveland Marshall College of Law. He is licensed to practice law in Ohio, and the federal court systems. He is married with several children. In 1997, Barrett began his political career by running at-large for city council in Amherst, Ohio, he would be reelected three more times.

Ohio House of Representatives

In 2004, Barrett ran for state representative against Kathleen Walcher, but lost 53.99% to 46.01%. However, Walcher resigned midway through her term. Barrett ran again for the seat in 2006, and this time defeated Walcher's replacement, Dan White, by a margin of 51.20% to 48.80%. He was sworn into office on January 2, 2007.

Only eighteen months into his first term, Barrett was caught in an ethics scandal after mistakenly allowing pornography to be shown to high school children during a presentation. While he initially blamed it on his teenage son, he later acknowledged that the mistake was his. He soon after resigned, and was succeeded by Tom Heydinger.