Matt Shea

Matt Shea
Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the Position 2, 4th legislative district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 12, 2009 (2009-01-12)
Preceded by	Lynn Schindler
Personal details
Born	Matthew Thomas Shea (1974-04-18) April 18, 1974 Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Lisa (Jenn) Shea (2002-2008) Viktoriya (Vinnikova) Shea (2008-present)
Residence	Spokane Valley, Washington
Alma mater	Gonzaga University (B.A.) Gonzaga University (J.D.)
Profession	Lawyer
Religion	Christianity
Awards	Bronze Star Medal Meritorious Service Medal Army Commendation Medal (2) Army Achievement Medal (4) Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Combat Infantryman Badge NATO Medal Order of the Spur Order of Saint Maurice
Website	Official
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army Washington Army National Guard
Years of service	1996–2000 2001–2006
Rank	Captain
Battles/wars	Bosnian War Iraq War

Matthew Thomas "Matt" Shea (born April 18, 1974) is an American politician of the Republican Party. He is a member of the Washington House of Representatives, representing the 4th Legislative District.

Political career

As a State Representative from the 4th District, Shea supports and co-founded Washington State’s Freedom Agenda^[1] slate of conservative legislation, including staunch defense of the Constitution, private property rights, gun ownership, veterans’ rights, the sanctity of human life, religious liberty, limited government, and a robust free market system. The success of the Freedom Agenda continues to flourish with the passage of multiple Shea-sponsored bills, such as House Bill 1858,^[2] House Bill 1918,^[3] and House Bill 2785,^[4] which have garnered support from both sides of the aisle. In 2015-16 alone the Freedom Agenda had over 80 Democrat co-sponsors. His record adheres to the motto Less Tax, Less Government, More Freedom.

Through spearheading bold initiatives such as these, Shea builds coalitions around issues of principle and has had tremendous success reaching across the aisle. Strong Shea supporters include pro-business organizations, including Credit Union Legislative Action Fund, National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), Spokane Home Builders Association, Trucking Action Committee, Washington Auto Dealers, and The Washington Restaurant Association. Shea also receives broad support from conservative organizations such as the Citizens Alliance for Property Rights (CAPR),^[5] Gun Owners’ Action League of Washington, Gun Owners of America, Human Life PAC,^[6] Justice for All PAC,^[7] Parents’ Rights of Washington, and Spokane County Constitutional Republications.

Shea co-founded the Washington Family Foundation, which later merged with the Family Policy Institute of Washington. First elected in 2008, he was named “Rookie Legislator of the Year” by the Everett Herald. He voted against the Washington State gay marriage legislation in 2009 and again in 2012, where he accurately predicted that religious liberty would be attacked as a result of the measure. In his opposition speech on the House Floor, Shea predicted florists and other small business owners would be among the first to be sued for exercising their rights under Article I, Section 10 of the Washington State Constitution by not participating in same-sex weddings. In 2011, he joined a coalition of state legislators from various states in support of restrictions on birthright citizenship.^[8] In 2012 and 2016,^[9] Shea received the National Federation of Independent Business's Guardian of Small Business award for a 100% pro-small business voting record. He was reelected in 2012 with 56.71% of the vote and in 2014 57.75% of the vote. He has won by margins in excess of eight points every election cycle, even despite a strong attempt to unseat him in 2012 by Democrat Amy Biviano, who lost by 13%^[10] and 2014 by Republican Josh Arritola (formerly Josh Arriola), who lost by 15%.^[11] On August 2, 2016, he again won the primary election in the 4th Legislative District with 60.41% of the vote.^[12] In November 2016 he won in the seat in the 4th Legislative District over Scott V. Stucker, receiving 64.61% of the vote.^[13]

Shea has described his legislative philosophy in these terms: “When legislation comes before me it must pass three tests: 1) Is it constitutional according to the original intent of our Founding Fathers and our God given unalienable rights?; 2) Can it be done more efficiently in the private sector?; and 3) Can it be done within existing revenues, rather than raising taxes? That’s why I have signed the “no new or increased tax pledge” and have fought tooth and nail to get government out of the way of our small businesses so they can create jobs.”^[14]

Shea is a founding member and current Chairman of COWS, Coalition of Western States,^[15] which holds the line against government overreach and which is now over 50 legislative members strong.^[16] He formed this alliance along with other state legislators, sheriffs, and public servants in response to recent disputes over Western land rights. COWS’ main goals are to “facilitate the transfer of public lands back to the state level, and to have the states and counties manage the land.”^[17] Shea and other COWS members traveled to Burns, Oregon, to assess the situation for themselves and their constituents.^[18] They were invited by local citizens and elected officials. The group received from Bundy supporters a petition of grievances—a right guaranteed to citizens under the First Amendment and a significant factor in the fight for liberty, freedom, and the prevention of government overreach—causes which Shea strongly supports. Key conclusions of that fact-finding mission were that over 120 private ranches were destroyed to make the Malheur Wildlife Refuge as part of a long term Federal government plan targeting individual parcels of land for acquisition and that government regulations were making it economically unviable for other ranchers in the area to continue their operations. Two months later the Coalition added to their findings that parcels of land surrounding the Turnbull Wildlife Refuge near Cheney, Washington, were similarly being targeted for acquisition by the Federal government.

In 2015 Shea also supported Idaho Representative Heather Scott, a fellow COWS member, in her protest against the U. S. Government’s attempt to confiscate guns from Priest River, Idaho, veteran John Arnold.

In 2015 Shea received the National Security Eagle Award for anti-terrorism legislation from ACT for America in Washington, D.C. “Matt Shea has been a tireless fighter on issues of national security,” said ACT for America Founder and President Brigitte Gabriel. “Thanks to his hard work, the Revised Code of Washington now contains provisions ensuring the U.S. and Washington state constitutions will be the supreme law of the land, and blocking the establishment of religious courts.”^[19]

Since 2010 Shea has hosted “Patriot Radio,” a twice-weekly show broadcast on the American Christian Network (ACN).^[20] The show description includes: “In the legacy of Dr. Stan Monteith, bringing you the Story behind the Story, the News behind the News. A broadcast for Patriots in the Defense of Freedom.”

Shea endorsed Ron Paul during the 2012 Republican presidential primaries.

Shea endorsed Rand Paul and then Ted Cruz during the 2016 Republican primaries.

Military career

Shea launched his military career in Reserved Officer Training Corps (ROTC) where he excelled at the Ranger Challenge. He continued as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Gonzaga University in 1996, finishing in the top 3 of his Officer Basic Training course. From May 1996 to June 2006, he served in the U.S. Army in Fort Knox, KY and Fort Carson, CO, achieving the rank of Captain, and then in two combat tours: one as a platoon leader in Camp Dobol, Bosnia-Herzegovina for eight months, and then eleven months as a company commander in Baghdad, Iraq. Later he was recognized as the top-rated captain in his battalion. Following these combat tours he was awarded the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Achievement Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, and Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and Order of St. Maurice. among several other military honors.

Shea is a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a current member of the American Legion and the National Infantry Association.

Personal background

The Shea family’s deep roots in eastern Washington stretch back four generations, and the unique character and concerns of this region are among Matt Shea’s top priorities. He was born in Spokane on April 14, 1974, to Alice and Michael Shea. He attended both Pasadena and Ponderosa Elementary Schools in Spokane Valley. Later, the family moved to Bellingham, where Shea attended middle and high school. His early jobs included working in a warehouse and on a landscaping crew. He worked his way back to Spokane to attend Gonzaga University, achieving a B.A. in History and Political Science, followed by a law degree, graduating cum laude from Gonzaga University School of Law.

In his youth Shea excelled at sports. He and his younger brother, Marc, played baseball for Sehome High School. His senior year they played in the AA Baseball State Championship.^[21] Today Shea enjoys cutting firewood and remains an avid hiker, hunter, fisherman, and outdoors enthusiast. In addition, he developed an ear for music when, upon his return from distinguished military service in Bosnia, he took up playing the guitar. Shea has publicly credited his father, Michael, with instilling in him a deep sense of responsibility and patriotism. He has also credited his wife, Viktoriya (who grew up under Communist rule in Ukraine), for helping him appreciate the freedoms we hold dear in America—freedoms that must be defended at any cost.^[22]

Controversy

In November 2011, Shea allegedly "pulled a gun during a confrontation with another motorist...in what police reports describe as a road rage incident."^[23] At no time did Shea point the gun at anyone, a fact corroborated by Leroy Norris himself, the man accused of road rage by Shea, and an independent witnesses. One independent witness in the report stated that she believed Leroy Norris’s dangerous driving was “unprovoked.” Leroy Norris readily admitted in the police report that he “did not believe that the driver of the truck pointed the gun at him at any time.”^[24] Additionally, the driver admitted that he "slammed on his brakes as the Ford Ranger was following him, in an attempt to cause a collision and potentially disable the truck." A second independent witness in a sworn statement wrote “Rep. Shea maintained a calm demeanor throughout the incident…To be honest I would have done the same thing if I were him…” However, Shea was found to have let his concealed weapons permit lapse. Although cited by Spokane Police for carrying a loaded firearm in his vehicle without a permit and for displaying the firearm in a manner to alarm others, he was only charged in court with a single count of having a loaded pistol in his vehicle without a valid permit, resulting in the city agreeing to a stipulated order of continuance. That sole charge was later dismissed with prejudice. Shea has also been the focus of news articles related to angry outbursts at his legislative office and a report claiming that he was allegedly disarmed by a commander while he served in Iraq due to anger management issues.^[25]

References