Get to Know Your Elected Officials Series
By KAREN LAGRANGE COX
During the day, Lafayette native Matt Romero, a member of the Youngsville City Council, has worked for the past four years as an area sales manager in the auto financing industry for Capital One Bank. He has been in the industry for over twenty years, serving the Lafayette and Baton Rouge, Louisiana markets.
When asked why Romero decided to become a public servant, he explained that he had always wanted to do public service work and felt it was a calling, something in his blood. He had seen his father involved with a chamber of commerce and served as its president for several years. In addition, his uncle, Russell, was involved with the Lafayette South Rotary Club.
Romero found his opportunity to become a public servant by running for Youngsville City Council Division C after trying to get a change in his Home Owners Association (HOA). He and some neighbors went before the city council for the HOA change. Unsatisfied with the meeting results, one of his neighbors suggested to Romero that he run for council member. After discussing it with his wife and friends, he started his campaign for city council. He started cold-calling businesses and residents for their support. That was in 2014; he took office in January 2015 and is currently Mayor Pro Tem for the city council.
Romero and his wife, Jennifer, have been married for seventeen years. They have two children: fourteen-year-old Carleigh and eleven-year-old Owen. Jennifer has worked in education for the last thirteen to fourteen years. Jennifer was one of the original teachers at Southside High School in Youngsville. Last year, she went to work as an academic advisor for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Carleigh plays softball and volleyball; she attends L.J. Alleman in Lafayette for its arts program and is an accomplished pianist. Owen plays with Acadiana Lacrosse Hurricanes and soccer and is in the band at the Acadiana Renaissance Charter Academy (ARCA), where he is a student.
Romero actively participates in his children’s sports and school activities. He coaches his children’s sports and has been a Public Address (PA) announcer for Southside High football for the last seven years.
He has been an active charter member of the Rotary Club of Youngsville since 2019 and a member of the Youngsville Lions Club since 2014. He is also involved with the Youngsville Chamber of Commerce, previously holding a seat on the Chamber’s Board. Jennifer is a founding member of the Youngsville Historical Preservation Society.
When Romero has some downtime, he enjoys taking time to smoke a good cigar and tries different cigars from Chesterton’s Fine Cigars. He also enjoys spending time with family and friends, grilling on the weekend, listening to live music, and working in his yard.
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If any elected official serving Broussard or Youngsville, Louisiana, would like to participate in the Get to Know Your Elected Officials series, please email info@bylocalnews.com.
