# Matthew Schindler

Matthew J. Schindler (born November 22, 1983) is an American politician who is a member to the Maryland House of Delegates from District 2B. A member of the Democratic Party, he was previously a member of the Hagerstown City Council from 2023 to 2024.

## Early life and education

Schindler was born on November 22, 1983, in Hagerstown, Maryland. He was raised in Hagerstown, graduating from North Hagerstown High School in 2001, afterwards attending Hagerstown Community College in 2003 before earning a Bachelor of Science degree in computer networks and cybersecurity from the University of Maryland, University College in 2021.

## Career

Schindler is an IT manager for the National Capital Bank of Washington.
Schindler ran for the Hagerstown city council in 2020, but was defeated in the nonpartisan primary election, placing second-to-last with 5.5 percent of the vote. In March 2023, after Hagerstown city councilor Tekesha Martinez was appointed to be the mayor of Hagerstown following Emily Keller's resignation to serve in the cabinet of Governor Wes Moore, Schindler applied to serve the remainder of Martinez's term on the city council. The city council selected Schindler to succeed her, and was sworn in on March 21, 2023. Schindler ran for a full four-year term in 2024, but was defeated in the general election, placing seventh with 8.81 percent of the vote. He left office on November 25, 2024.

## Maryland House of Delegates

In December 2024, following the resignation of state delegate Brooke Grossman, Schindler applied to serve the remainder of Grossman's term in the Maryland House of Delegates. The Washington County Democratic Central Committee unanimously voted to nominate Schindler to the seat later that month. He was sworn in on January 7, 2025.

## Political positions

During his 2020 Hagerstown city council campaign, Schindler expressed concerns with the cost of a new stadium for the Hagerstown Suns, saying that he'd prefer city funds be spent renovating the current ballpark. He also said he would make staffing and retention initiatives for the city's police and fire department the "highest priority in the city budget", and would prioritize the city's economic development and revitalization efforts by appealing to entrepreneurs and new employers. In October 2023, Schindler participated in a United Auto Workers strike at Hagerstown's Mack Trucks plant.
In July 2024, following a fatal shooting in downtown Hagerstown, Schindler suggested establishing a violent crimes task force. He also expressed frustration with a letter written by state senator Paul D. Corderman accusing city officials of "remaining silent, with no plan" to address violent crime and describing the city as "in crisis and under siege", saying that he appreciated the state delegation's willingness to "come to the table with us", but felt the letter was "very politically motivated and kind of accusatory when we're all working for the same thing".

## Personal life

Schindler is divorced and has a son he adopted with his former wife, Desiree, in 2012.
Schindler coaches youth sports and is a fan of the Baltimore Orioles. He attended high school with professional wrestler LA Knight and helped arrange an event during which Knight was presented the key to the city of Hagerstown.

## Electoral history

Hagerstown city council primary election, 2020 :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Kristin B. Aleshire | Kristin B. Aleshire | 3,762 | 13.2 |
| Shelley McIntire | Shelley McIntire | 3,052 | 10.7 |
| Bob Bruchey | Bob Bruchey | 2,517 | 8.8 |
| Tiara Burnett | Tiara Burnett | 2,513 | 8.8 |
| Penny May Nigh | Penny May Nigh | 2,451 | 8.6 |
| Brenda Thiam | Brenda Thiam | 2,420 | 8.5 |
| Peter E. Perini, Sr | Peter E. Perini, Sr | 2,021 | 7.1 |
| Austin Heffernan | Austin Heffernan | 1,990 | 7.0 |
| Tekesha Martinez | Tekesha Martinez | 1,972 | 6.9 |
| Brooke Grossman | Brooke Grossman | 1,907 | 6.7 |
| Chip Snyder | Chip Snyder | 1,825 | 6.4 |
| Matthew J. Schindler | Matthew J. Schindler | 1,586 | 5.5 |
| Travis Aaron Sites | Travis Aaron Sites | 585 | 2.0 |
Hagerstown city council primary election, 2024 :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Kristin Aleshire (incumbent) | Kristin Aleshire (incumbent) | 2,617 | 16.12 |
| Tiara Burnett (incumbent) | Tiara Burnett (incumbent) | 2,062 | 12.70 |
| Matthew Schindler (incumbent) | Matthew Schindler (incumbent) | 1,660 | 10.22 |
| Peter Perini (incumbent) | Peter Perini (incumbent) | 1,579 | 9.73 |
| Sean Flaherty | Sean Flaherty | 1,453 | 8.95 |
| Erika Bell | Erika Bell | 1,369 | 8.43 |
| Stacy Michael | Stacy Michael | 1,347 | 8.30 |
| Caroline Anderson | Caroline Anderson | 1,252 | 7.71 |
| Mark Bell | Mark Bell | 1,101 | 6.78 |
| Rich Owens | Rich Owens | 1,074 | 6.61 |
| Journie Martinez | Journie Martinez | 722 | 4.45 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 16,236 | 100.0 |
Hagerstown city council election, 2024 :
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Tiara Burnett (incumbent) | Tiara Burnett (incumbent) | 6,371 | 13.37 |
| Kristin Aleshire (incumbent) | Kristin Aleshire (incumbent) | 6,363 | 13.35 |
| Erika Bell | Erika Bell | 5,412 | 11.36 |
| Caroline Anderson | Caroline Anderson | 4,557 | 9.56 |
| Sean Flaherty | Sean Flaherty | 4,394 | 9.22 |
| Mark Bell | Mark Bell | 4,373 | 9.18 |
| Matthew Schindler (incumbent) | Matthew Schindler (incumbent) | 4,199 | 8.81 |
| Peter Perini (incumbent) | Peter Perini (incumbent) | 4,046 | 8.49 |
| Stacy Michael | Stacy Michael | 3,999 | 8.39 |
| Rich Owens | Rich Owens | 3,719 | 7.80 |
| Write-in | Write-in | 233 | 0.47 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 47,656 | 100.0 |