Matt Dolan

Matthew J. Dolan (born January 12, 1961) is an attorney, baseball team owner, and politician currently serving as a member of the Ohio Senate, representing the communities of Bay Village, Bedford Heights, Berea, Brecksville, Broadview Heights, Chagrin Falls, Fairview Park, Highland Heights, Independence, Lyndhurst, North Olmsted, North Royalton, Olmsted, Olmsted Falls, Richmond Heights, Rocky River, Seven Hills, Solon, Strongsville, and Westlake in Cuyahoga County. He is a former member of the Ohio House of Representatives, serving in that body from 2005 to 2010.
Dolan also has a partial ownership stake in the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball, as the team is considered a family asset.

Dolan was born and raised in Cleveland and is a graduate of Gilmour Academy, Boston College and Case Western Reserve School of Law. An attorney, Dolan is a former Chief Assistant Prosecutor for Geauga County and Assistant Attorney General for the State of Ohio. Currently, he is a partner at the law firm of Thrasher, Dinsmore & Dolan.

In 2004, Dolan was elected to represent the 98th District in the Ohio House of Representatives, and was re-elected in 2006 and 2008. He resigned in January 2010 to focus on a run for Cuyahoga County Executive. Dolan is the son of Cleveland Indians owner Larry Dolan and nephew of Cablevision billionaire Charles Dolan. On November 2, 2010, he lost to Lakewood Mayor, Democrat Ed FitzGerald in the race to become Cuyahoga County Executive.

In 2016, Dolan opted to make a comeback in politics by succeeding state Senator Tom Patton, who was term-limited that year after serving in the Senate for over eight years. A competitive seat on paper, the 24th District had been held by Republicans for over thirty years, which created a competitive primary. For the Republican nomination, Dolan faced sitting state Representatives Nan Baker and Mike Dovilla. However, his name recognition and large personal wealth put him over the edge, and he won the nomination with 44% of the vote, to Baker's 29% and Dovilla's 27%.

While the general election was at first deemed competitive, it did not prove to be in the end. Facing Emily Hagan, an assistant county prosecutor and the niece of former Cuyahoga County Commissioner and gubernatorial candidate Tim Hagan, Dolan won with over 58% of the vote. He was sworn into office on January 3, 2017.