Matt Erard
Encyclopedia
Matt Erard is an American
democratic socialist
politician
on the city of Detroit’s Downtown District Citizens’ District Council and a former candidate for the Michigan House of Representatives' 53rd District. He is also the current State Secretary and former State Chairperson of the Socialist Party of Michigan
.
. He has been active in political activities since childhood, going door-to-door and working the polls in support of candidates in the 1992 United States presidential election
at the age of seven. In 1997, at the age of twelve, Erard decided that he was a socialist
after doing research on various third parties on the internet. At the age 15, Erard became the youngest ever intern at the Detroit office of the American Civil Liberties Union
and also joined the Socialist Party.
, Constitution Party
, Green Party
, Libertarian Party
, and the Reform Party. Erard was also a founding member of the Washtenaw Reds, a local Washtenaw County, MI political group consisting of members from several different socialist organizations.
In 2006, Erard who at the time was the State Chairperson of the Socialist Party of Michigan ran as a No Party Affiliation
candidate (Michigan Secretary of State
does not recognize the Socialist Party's ballot status) for the Michigan House of Representative's 53rd District, during which he campaigned under the Socialist Party's nomination and banner. His campaign received 847 votes, meaning 2.51% of the vote. Two years later, he ran as a Green Party
candidate for the Michigan House of Representatives 53rd district, during which he campaigned as a dually nominated candidate of both the Socialist Party and Green Party. Erard received 2,199 (4.6%) of the votes, finishing 3rd in a 3 candidate field.. In 2011 Erard was elected to a three year term on the City of Detroit Downtown District Citizens District Council in the municipal election held for that office on April 5th of that year.
During the 2008 campaign, Erard stated in a forum for students that he would work to abolish tuition and forgive student loans. He said, "I believe education is a right, not a privilege". On economic issues he stated, "Unlike my Democratic opponent's campaign which is behold to the corporate financial interests that have bankroll it, my campaign is beholden to no one but the working people of the 53rd district. I seek to present the challenge we need to restore Michigan's vitality - one based on breaking the stranglehold of private capital over our state's economy and government and empowering every Michigan resident who works for a living to take control of our own political system, economy, and workplaces."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
democratic socialist
Democratic socialism
Democratic socialism is a description used by various socialist movements and organizations to emphasize the democratic character of their political orientation...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
on the city of Detroit’s Downtown District Citizens’ District Council and a former candidate for the Michigan House of Representatives' 53rd District. He is also the current State Secretary and former State Chairperson of the Socialist Party of Michigan
Socialist Party of Michigan
The Socialist Party of Michigan is the state chapter of the Socialist Party USA in the U.S. state of Michigan.-Formation:The Socialist Party of Michigan was the state affiliate of the Socialist Party of America , established in the summer of 1901...
.
Early life
Erard was born on 11 January 1985 in Royal Oak, MichiganRoyal Oak, Michigan
Royal Oak is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 57,236. It should not be confused with Royal Oak Charter Township, a separate community located nearby....
. He has been active in political activities since childhood, going door-to-door and working the polls in support of candidates in the 1992 United States presidential election
United States presidential election, 1992
The United States presidential election of 1992 had three major candidates: Incumbent Republican President George Bush; Democratic Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, and independent Texas businessman Ross Perot....
at the age of seven. In 1997, at the age of twelve, Erard decided that he was a socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
after doing research on various third parties on the internet. At the age 15, Erard became the youngest ever intern at the Detroit office of the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
and also joined the Socialist Party.
Political activities
Erard was the initial founding organizer of the Michigan Third Parties Coalition, which consists of the Michigan state party branches of the Socialist PartySocialist Party of Michigan
The Socialist Party of Michigan is the state chapter of the Socialist Party USA in the U.S. state of Michigan.-Formation:The Socialist Party of Michigan was the state affiliate of the Socialist Party of America , established in the summer of 1901...
, Constitution Party
U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan
The U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan is the Michigan affiliate of the Constitution Party. Like its national counterpart, the U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan is a strongly constitutional party and is committed to the principals of Biblical law...
, Green Party
Green Party of Michigan
The Green Party of Michigan is the state party organization for Michigan of the Green Party of the United States. The party has had ballot access in Michigan since November 2000...
, Libertarian Party
Libertarian Party of Michigan
The Libertarian Party of Michigan was founded in Taylor, Michigan in 1972 and remains on the ballot; as Michigan’s third oldest active political party...
, and the Reform Party. Erard was also a founding member of the Washtenaw Reds, a local Washtenaw County, MI political group consisting of members from several different socialist organizations.
In 2006, Erard who at the time was the State Chairperson of the Socialist Party of Michigan ran as a No Party Affiliation
No Party Affiliation
No Party Affiliation or NPA is a term used to apply to those voters or politicians who do not hold an affiliation with any particular political party. Another term which is often used in place of "NPA" is "Independent".In the U.S...
candidate (Michigan Secretary of State
Michigan Secretary of State
The Secretary of State is the third-ranking official in the U.S. state of Michigan and one of four great offices of state. As the name implies, the officeholder was originally responsible for much of state government, but now the duties are similar to those of the other 47 secretaries of states...
does not recognize the Socialist Party's ballot status) for the Michigan House of Representative's 53rd District, during which he campaigned under the Socialist Party's nomination and banner. His campaign received 847 votes, meaning 2.51% of the vote. Two years later, he ran as a Green Party
Green Party (United States)
The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
candidate for the Michigan House of Representatives 53rd district, during which he campaigned as a dually nominated candidate of both the Socialist Party and Green Party. Erard received 2,199 (4.6%) of the votes, finishing 3rd in a 3 candidate field.. In 2011 Erard was elected to a three year term on the City of Detroit Downtown District Citizens District Council in the municipal election held for that office on April 5th of that year.
During the 2008 campaign, Erard stated in a forum for students that he would work to abolish tuition and forgive student loans. He said, "I believe education is a right, not a privilege". On economic issues he stated, "Unlike my Democratic opponent's campaign which is behold to the corporate financial interests that have bankroll it, my campaign is beholden to no one but the working people of the 53rd district. I seek to present the challenge we need to restore Michigan's vitality - one based on breaking the stranglehold of private capital over our state's economy and government and empowering every Michigan resident who works for a living to take control of our own political system, economy, and workplaces."