“I have become everything I ever mocked as penance for the hedonism of my youth.”
—Matthew Meador
A former food and beverage writer, wine columnist and senior editor of two regional food-and-drink magazines, Matthew Meador discovered that the COVID era presented an opportunity for a giant reset — although, it’s not really like he had a choice in the matter.
One of the four or five remaining moderate Republicans, Matt switched to writing political commentary because it allows him to be grouchy now that he is no longer paid to eat, drink and be merry.
In a previous life, Matt was an award-winning graphic artist who often put his skills to use during election cycles.
Matt is rumored to have lurked around the capitol building at one point, having learned that Legislative Counsel put his bill drafts to the front of the line when he brought them cookies or plates of food from whatever lobbying group was feeding the building that day.
Matt has served in various capacities on political campaigns, for pollsters and for elected officials.
“Some of the best friends of my life have been the people with whom I disagreed the most.”
—Matthew Meador
Matt may disagree with you but he plays well with others and will never hold your wrongness against you. He had many years of practice sitting around tables littered with empty glasses as he argued politics with Portland Pinkos, — you know, people from the city that celebrates unlimited tolerance paired with no accountability. Sometimes, he even won.
If you parsed Matt politically, he’s about one-third conservative Republican, one-third liberal Democrat and one-third Libertarian. None of his positions conflict with any other. Seriously.
A lifelong fan of the Algonquin-Churchillian-style insult (not to be confused with currently popular but artless name-calling), Matt nonetheless has been trying his level best to avoid condescension or mockery in his writing. However, he might have trouble stifling a laugh if you told him there was a giant satanistic underground teenage mutant mafia ninja sex cabal running the local schools. C’mon, man. We know you hate the lefties but such outrageous hyperbole sounds downright hysterical.
“Accepting as truth only that which human science can prove is a profoundly narrow perspective.”
—Matthew Meador
Matt is an Anglican Catholic who believes science and faith are utterly compatible. He lives in McMinnville, Oregon with his wife, Christy Nielsen, daughters Nicky and Abby and mother-in-law, Gayle. The household wouldn’t be complete without Chico the large chihuahua, Itsy Bitsy the obese dachshund and Patches, the cat with the stubby tail.
Matt’s writing appears on the Ridenbaugh Press and in McMinnville’s venerable News-Register, among other places.
“If I put stuff in quotes and attribute it to myself, people will think I’m really smart. Okay, maybe not but at least it makes this ‘about’ page look cool.”
—Matthew Meador