WILMINGTON — The Committee of 100 has selected longtime federal, state and local political aide Matthew Dougherty as its next executive director following the departure of Elizabeth Keller.
Dougherty started the job on March 13.
“We are excited to welcome Matt as our new executive director,” Committee of 100 Board President Nicki Taylor said in a prepared statement. “Matt’s extensive experience in senior roles in government and his strong relationships in Delaware’s business community make him an excellent fit for this role. He understands the issues and the effect they have on our state and economy.”
Dougherty is a Wilmington native and graduated from Concord High School. His first step into political activism was when he volunteered for the campaign of Boston Mayor Marty Walsh while attending Suffolk University.
“I was working 70-hour weeks, working the field, and I just fell in love with everything related to campaigns,” Dougherty told the Delaware Business Times. “I joined his inauguration staff and worked part time in the city hall when I was in school. That’s how I got the bug.”
After his time in Boston, Dougherty worked on other campaigns in Boston before he interned for his home state representative, John Carney. He moved to Capital Hill to continue with an internship until he landed a job as the Motion Picture Association chairman’s special assistant. At the time, the chairman was former Senator Chris Dodd.
“As my boss said at that point, it’s all downhill from there. I got to travel the world and I spent a third of each month overseas,” Dougherty said. “I joke that’s how I got my master’s degree: following him around for a year. He would bring me to every meeting and every event.”
After that, Dougherty went on to work on the staff of Rep. Debbie Dingell and Rep. David Trone. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he and his wife decided to move back to Delaware. His last federal assignment was staffing President Joe Biden’s inauguration.
Dougherty then started working with Delaware politicians, starting with U.S. Senator Tom Carper, then the campaign director for the House Democrats in 2022 and the final months of Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long’s gubernatorial campaign.
With years of experience of working with politicians under his belt, Dougherty said he was ready to start diving into issues and having a direct hand in developing solutions. He has been able to touch economic development policies here and there during jobs with various federal officials, but it’s time for him to focus on a set of policies.
“This is really a perfect match, because I was looking for something I was passionate about to sink my teeth into, something that could really help the people of Delaware,” he said. “Economic development helps create the environment where companies want to move and grow, and that in turn helps bring more jobs and affordable housing. The people benefit when Delaware grows the tax base and a higher quality of life.”
Now settling into his first month, Dougherty said his top priority is meeting with Gov. Matt Meyer and New Castle County Executive Marcus Henry’s administration to get a sense of their policy agenda. Much of their campaign promises were on economic development and affordable housing, so he believes they are likely to be on the same page.
“Both the governor and the New Castle County Executive are very familiar with the committee, and they’ve worked with them in the past,” Dougherty said. “I think it’s going to be a great relationship, and one we will have to grow.”
