Here’s what I believe for Lebanon in 2027

I believe in Lebanon.

I believe in an engaged connected community.

I believe in service.

I believe in collaboration.

I believe in learning from the past and trying to make things better for the present and future.

I believe in finding solutions.

My wife, April, and I have lived in Boone County since the summer of 2003, and moved to the city of Lebanon in February 2004. We came here for my first career to raise a family. We set down roots and raised our three daughters. This is home, and it will always be home. I love being able to walk across the street and visit our neighbors. I love walking to the park and knowing we will see someone we know. I love visiting a local restaurant and knowing people by name. I love attending downtown events and recognizing smiling faces. I love going to the grocery store and having that inevitable conversation. I love taking time to talk with people of all ages about anything and everything.

Community is important to me and for several years I have immersed myself in a variety of aspects of Boone County and specifically Lebanon. For the past decade I have led the Boone County Mentoring Partnership from a novelty vision to an organization that has multiple programs focused on engaging young people with good adult mentors and other resources that help them grow well and realize their potential. I have also invested time into coaching young people at both the middle school and high school levels during the past decade.

Since 2019, I have been a Chaplain for the Lebanon Police Department. I also serve our community in other capacities as an active member and Past-President of the Lebanon Kiwanis Club, President of Prevent Child Abuse Boone County, Center Township Advisory Board (since 2023), President of the Community Corrections Advisory Board, Secretary of Drug Free Boone County, and recently rejoined the board of the Heart of Lebanon and appointed to the Discover Boone County board. Over two years ago I was appointed to the statewide Kids First Trust Fund board where I currently serve as the Vice-Chairman.

I also served on the 4^th of July Committee from 2018-2021, Symphony at Sunset board from 2018-2020, and as a co-leader of the LMS FCA from 2018-2020. Along with Shelley West, I co-founded the Elementary Big Run in 2017 to inspire and motivate active and healthy competition while encouraging young people to enjoy running. Finally, in 2022 along with Cole Ramsey, a 2025 Western Boone graduate, we co-founded the Boone County Youth Advisory group consisting of high school students of Lebanon, Western Boone, and Zionsville that gives youth a place to voice their concerns and solutions to issues facing themselves and their peers. This group is now being duplicated in other counties in the state.

Today I am sharing officially with you all that I intend to run in 2027 for Mayor of Lebanon.

It is not the title I am pursuing. It is not because I believe it is due to me. It is not because I aspire to be a politician. Instead, my motivation is because I believe in Lebanon. I believe in the community. I believe this should be a place that as young people grow into adulthood they choose to raise a family here because the community invested in them.

Growth is inevitable, and Lebanon has an opportunity to grow well. Challenges exist that need addressed with a vision and plan that extend beyond our generation.

We must ensure a safe community with connectivity and infrastructure that allows people to drive, ride a bike, walk, and run with greater ease.

We must provide our community with recreation and encourage quality of life opportunities.

We believe in Lebanon and we should make it impossible for people to ignore Lebanon as the best community it can be for all who want to have a great experience.

Over the next several months, I look forward to listening to people, sharing who I am and my vision and ideas for the city, and serving the people of Lebanon with enthusiasm, engagement, and energy.

I would be honored to gain your support. If you would like to volunteer to help, please send a message here. If you would like to contribute financially, you can make donate securely online now or make checks payable to Wilson for Lebanon.

Excited to serve the people of Lebanon,

Matt Wilson