Time on Council
Current term: January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2025
Position: 3
Time in office: 2018 to present
Mayor: 2018–2021
Contact
[email protected]
Boards and Committees
- Latino Civic Alliance Regional Executive Board Member and Vice-Chair
- Northwest Minority Builders Alliance Founding Board Member
- 509 Gateway Project Joint Executive Committee Member
- South County Area Transportation Board (SCATBd) Member
- Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Advisory Group Member
- Associated General Contractors (AGC) Local Government Affairs Committee Member
- Highline Public Schools General Advisory Committee Member
Background
“The city of Burien is where my heart is. It is where I want to raise my family and help other families make Burien their home. I want us, the city of Burien, to grow and work together. Let’s get busy and make it happen. I want to thank the voters of Burien for the opportunity to be of service.”
Jimmy Matta grew up amid the towering peaks of Idaho's Cache Valley and in various cities in Central Washington, including Quincy, Wenatchee, and Ephrata. It was in these places that he learned the value of hard work, starting in the fields at the tender age of ten. In 1998, he relocated to Burien, WA where he steadily climbed the ranks within the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC). Throughout his career, he has held a range of roles within the union, starting as President of Local 41 and progressing to positions such as Assistant to the Executive Secretary Treasurer and later International Representative under the General President. Additionally, he has served as a trustee and delegate. In these diverse roles, he consistently adhered to union regulations and policies, applied the core principles of the union, provided guidance to officers and committees on procedural matters and the interpretation of the UBC constitution, developed budgets, and delivered financial reports. These experiences have significantly enhanced his leadership abilities, which, in turn, have proven invaluable in his role on the city council.
Harnessing the resilience and determination passed down from his migrant farmworker parents in Guatemala, along with a vision to establish a minority-owned, union-signatory contracting firm, he founded his construction business in 2016. Matta plays a pivotal role within his business, spearheading sales and outreach, contract negotiations, ensuring safety and quality control across projects, and representing his business at diverse events and conferences. He fosters strong connections with tradespeople and prioritizes personal connections with all employees. Matta possesses a unique talent for mentoring apprentices, imparting essential skills, and instilling a strong work ethic in the youngest members of his team. His guidance encourages them to persevere in the construction field and never lose sight of their goals.
His accomplishments in social and economic justice and labor issues span from advocacy for civil rights, democracy, and broad participation in government by the people, to a strong commitment to our constitutional rights.
Matta supports many community and faith-based organizations both in the King County area and statewide that work on the following issues:
- Organized labor, family wage jobs
- Environmental justice
- Public safety
- Human services
- Women and minority-owned businesses in public contracting opportunities
As a union labor leader, community advocate, and organizer, Matta has long sought to build bridges between organized labor, business, and our diverse communities of Washington. Matta has applied his expertise in his previous roles on the following boards:
- National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC) Board Member
- Burien Airport Committee Member
- Labor Council for Latin American Advancement Board President
- League of United Latin American Citizens Board President
- Soundside Alliance Policy Committee Member
Matta graduated from Ascend Seattle at University of Washington's Foster School of Business Consulting and Business Development Center and the Latino Business Action Network program through Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Matta has received the following recognition:
- Discover Burien: Public Servant of the Year—awarded to Mayor Jimmy Matta in 2019
- Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Committee: Social Justice Award—awarded to Mayor Jimmy Matta in 2019
- Paralyzed Veterans of America: Glenn Galbreath Legislative Award—awarded to Mayor Jimmy Matta in 2019
- Maggies: Trailblazer of the Year Award—awarded to Mayor Jimmy Matta in 2017
- King County Democrats: Candidate of the Year—awarded to candidate Jimmy Matta in 2017
- Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber: Latino Leadership Award—awarded to Jimmy Matta in 2010
He indulges in his love for culinary arts, relishing the art of cooking and grilling. Exploring Burien's diverse culinary landscape is a particular passion, as Matta seeks out exceptional dining experiences across the city. A few of his favorites include Classic Eats, Wah Kue, Alibertos, and El Cabrito.
Updated January 19, 2024