Matthew Frumin is an American politician who serves as Ward 3 member of the

Council of the District of Columbia The Council of the District of Columbia (or simply D.C. Council) is the legislative branch of the government of the District of Columbia. As permitted in the United States Constitution, the district is not part of any U.S. state and is overseen ...

. Previously he was an international trade attorney and was active on local education issues.

Early life and education

Frumin grew up near

Detroit Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

, the son of a psychiatrist who later unsuccessfully ran for Congress.

Career

Frumin served as a Clinton appointee in the State Department. He was a major fundraiser for Clinton, where he was a member of the fundraising group known as the "Saxophone Club". After leaving government, he worked as an international trade attorney and was a partner of the law firm Cassidy Levy Kent.

Politics

In 2000, Frumin was the Democratic nominee against Congressman Joe Knollenberg in

Michigan's 11th congressional district Michigan's 11th congressional district is a United States congressional district north of Detroit, comprising most of urbanized central Oakland County, Michigan, Oakland County. Until 1993, the district covered the state's Upper Peninsula of Mi ...

. He lost by 15 points, though he fared better than his father, who had run against Knollenberg four years earlier in the solidly Republican district. Frumin began his work in local DC politics through his ANC, serving as chair of 3E and various Council and mayoral taskforces. He was an advocate for improvements to public schools in Ward 3, including Janney Elementary, Deal Middle and Wilson High School. In 2013, Frumin ran for a vacant at-large seat on the DC Council after

Phil Mendelson Philip Heath Mendelson (born November 8, 1952) is an American politician from Washington, D.C. He is currently Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia, elected by the Council on June 13, 2012, following the resignation of Kwame R. Bro ...

became chair of the Council. Frumin outraised many of his competitors, but came in fourth place with 11 percent of the vote. He was supported by filmmaker Aviva Kempner and wavered about whether he would hold outside employment if elected. In 2022, following incumbent Mary Cheh's announcement that she would not seek another term, Frumin announced his candidacy. He won the June primary after three candidates dropped out days before the election to support his campaign.

Positions

In his 2022 campaign, Frumin said that "alleviating school overcrowding and increasing access to affordable housing" were "the most pressing issues facing Ward 3.

Committees

Frumin serves on the following committees:
Committee on Executive Administration and LaborCommittee on Hospital and Health EquityCommittee on Transportation and the EnvironmentCommittee on Facilities and Family ServicesCommittee on Housing

Personal life

Frumin and his wife Lena have been married for 35 years live in

American University Park American University Park is a Neighborhoods in Washington, D.C., neighborhood of Washington, D.C., named for American University. AU Park, as it is often abbreviated, is situated against the Maryland border in the Northwest, Washington, D.C., No ...

. He has three adult children who all attended Woodrow Wilson High School (now called Jackson-Reed High School). He is active in the Washington Interfaith Network.

Electoral history

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Frumin, Matthew 21st-century Washington, D.C., politicians George Washington University alumni Living people Members of the Council of the District of Columbia University of Michigan alumni Year of birth missing (living people)