Matthews is governed by a Mayor and a six member Board of Commissioners. A nonpartisan election for Mayor is held every two years. Commissioner elections are also nonpartisan and all seats are at-large. Commissioners are elected for two year terms. The next election is November 2013.

The mission of the Matthews Board of Commissioners is to represent the public interest, promote quick, courteous response to residents' problems, provide leadership and direction to the Town's future and ensure the present and future fiscal integrity of the municipal government. The Town of Matthews has a Council-Manager form of government. Under this form of government, the elected board of Commissioners sets policies for the operation of the Town. Elections are conducted on a nonpartisan basis. Those currently serving on the board are: Mayor James P. Taylor and Mayor Pro-Tem Paul Bailey. Commissioners: Suzanne Gulley, Nancy Moore, Jeff Miller, W. Kress Query, and John Urban.

Town Council meetings are held the second and fourth Mondays of every month at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 232 Matthews Station Street. The public is given an opportunity to speak at every meeting for four minutes on any topic. A sign up sheet is in the lobby before every meeting if you would like to address the board.

		James (Jim) P. Taylor is the 17th Mayor of Matthews. Jim Taylor served on the Matthews Town Board for five terms having been elected in 1999. He is active in the community as a board member of the Matthews Volunteer Fire Department Board of Directors as treasurer and secretary. Throughout his ten years as a Town Board member he served on a number of committees and boards in the Town and region. A native of Miami, Florida, Mayor Taylor is a graduate of the University of South Florida with a bachelor's degree in economics. His professional career is in finance. He worked for Bank of America and currently works as Vice President of Finance in the Commercial Banking Segment of Wells Fargo. He and his wife, Joselyn, have two children, Breanna and Brandon. They have lived in Matthews for 20 years. "As Mayor of Matthews I will continue to build upon the great things that we as a community have accomplished during my ten years on the Town Board. While these economic times are challenging there is much to be done in order to ensure our future success. I look forward to guiding us as we continue to retain and recruit businesses that will provide jobs and success for our citizens," commented Mayor Jim Taylor.
		Suzanne Gulley is serving her 5th term on the Town Board. She is a native of Matthews and is married to Former State Representative Jim Gulley. She founded "The Matthews Record" newspaper. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a degree in political science. She and Jim have two children and four grandchildren.
		Paul Bailey is Mayor Pro Tem of Matthews. Bailey is serving his 9th term on the Matthews Town Council and has been a resident of Mecklenburg County for 34 years. Living in Matthews for 27 years, Paul has been involved in Matthews since 1986. His previous service has included Chairman of the Matthews Transportation Board, 16 years as a member of the Town Council, Mayor Pro-Tem, alternate delegate to the Mecklenburg-Union Metropolitan Planning Organization (MUMPO), appointee to the Mecklenburg County Planning Liaison Committee, and Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Commission for the Southern Towns. Bailey has been active with the Boy Scouts in Mecklenburg County serving as an Eagle Advisor and Committee Member with Troop 33. Paul and his wife of 33 years, Sherrie, attend St. John's Episcopal Church. They enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren. Bailey works for Duke Energy Corporation and holds a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from N.C. State University and a M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering, from the University of South Carolina. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in N.C. and S.C.
		Jeff Miller is a native of Chicago and has lived in Matthews for ten years. This is his third term on the Town Board. He is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and has worked as an executive chef. He is currently employed at the Family Dollar Distribution Center as Area Manager in Inventory Control. He has also been active in the community serving on various boards and committees.
		Nancy Moore has lived in Matthews for 13 years and this is her third term on the Matthews Town Board. She works as a paralegal. She has been active on various committees and boards in the community including the Mecklenburg County Therapeutic Recreation Advisory Committee. She is married and has two sons.
		Kress Query has served the Town of Matthews as a Town Board member and former Mayor of Matthews for over 20 years. A native of Matthews, Kress graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with an associate degree in mechanical engineering. He is President of ABT Metals. Kress has been involved in the community serving as President of the Matthews Volunteer Fire Department, President of the Matthews Elementary School PTA, President and Charter Member of the Matthews Historical Foundation and Matthews United Methodist Church Kindergarten.  He and his wife, have three children and four grandchildren.
		John Urban has been a resident of Matthews for 12 years and is serving his 2nd term on the board. He is a graduate of UNCC with a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in Architecture. He is the principal of the Urban Architectural Group, PA located in Matthews. A licensed Architect in ten states, John is a member of the American Institute of Architects and was recently accredited, LEED AP, by the U.S. Green Building Council for the design and construction of sustainable buildings. He has been active in the Matthews Community serving as chair of the Appearance and Tree Advisory Board, and as a member of the Matthews Historical Foundation Board, Matthews Health Clinic Board, Economic Development Advisory Committee and the Unified Development Ordinance Taskforce.