As Ridgefield continues its rapid expansion, newly appointed Mayor Matt Cole is focused on guiding smart development while preserving the city’s character.
Cole was sworn in as mayor on Jan. 23, 2025, following the retirement of Ron Onslow.
He outlined his priorities for managing Ridgefield’s future while maintaining its small-town charm during his first week in office.
“With all of the growth and development that’s happening, I think it’s [about] striking that careful balance between progress and preservation, where we’ve been and where we’re going, and then communicating that along the way so that you can get [input] from the residents who live here,” Cole said.
The path to the City Council
Originally raised in Hockinson, Cole moved to Ridgefield from east Vancouver in 2017, seeking a close-knit community in which to raise his family. Ridgefield’s strong sense of tradition and civic engagement immediately stood out to him. Cole recalled the city’s annual Fourth of July celebration left a lasting impression.
“I remember going for the first time … I was just overwhelmed, like, ‘This is what this town does on the Fourth of July?’ It was huge,” Cole said. “It felt like you were a part of something, and I think for both my wife and me … this is what we were looking for.”
Cole immediately knew his move to Ridgefield would be permanent and sought ways to become involved in its growth. His first step into public service came when then-Mayor Don Stose encouraged him to fill a vacant seat on the Clark County Mosquito Control Board. From there, he increased his involvement, becoming a citizen advisor to the Budget Advisory Committee in 2021 and later joining the Ridgefield Planning Commission, where he helped shape the city’s development strategy.
Cole’s path led him to the City Council in April 2022, when he was appointed to fill Stose’s vacant seat. On the council, he focused on community engagement and responsible growth, gaining recognition for balancing development with preserving Ridgefield’s identity.
Outside of public service, Cole works as vice president and creative director at Lockton, a global insurance brokerage. He believes he is the first Ridgefield mayor in at least two decades to have a full-time job outside of City Hall but is confident he can manage both.
“I get the best of both worlds. I get to straddle a career that I love, a full-time marketing and creative career. I love bringing ideas to fruition,” Cole said. “And on the city level, I get to be connected to my community that I get to help grow and plan, and that’s incredibly rewarding as well ... It’s been a great experience to be able to have that and to make those both work, but yeah, it definitely keeps me very, very busy.”
Cole’s first day as mayor was hectic as he attended the Association of Washington Cities Mayors Exchange to connect with leaders from across Washington. Though Cole was the newest mayor there, he said the meeting offered great insight into the challenges cities are facing.
“I was definitely the freshest one there, but it was a good experience to be able to talk to them and hear what other mayors are working through,” Coles said. “Across multiple cities, I think we all have some very similar challenges, and, at the same time, there’s different dynamics to every city, too, so it’s good to have a group like that where they give you some time to bounce ideas off each other.”
Planning Ridgefield’s future
Ridgefield’s population is expected to grow by 10,000 residents over the next decade, reinforcing the need for careful planning. One of Cole’s top priorities is improving access to and from Interstate 5, particularly with a new south interchange to relieve congestion at Exit 14.
“What we’re seeing is, through all of our growth, is that interchange right there is actually becoming more and more congested, and so we do see a need to have I-5 south access … They’re looking at a bunch of different options right now,” Cole said.
The city is already widening Pioneer Street near Exit 14 to ease traffic from the newly opened Costco and the planned YMCA and community center, slated to open in late 2026 or early 2027. However, Cole believes a new interchange south of Exit 14 is necessary to accommodate long-term growth.
Ridgefield has applied for federal grants and is working with state lawmakers to fund feasibility studies. The Ridgefield City Council and Clark County Council have also issued a joint letter of support for the project.
Housing is another key focus for Cole, who stresses the importance of thoughtful planning to ensure affordability amid Ridgefield’s rapid growth. The city is currently developing a comprehensive plan to address housing, employment and infrastructure needs based on projected growth, in accordance with the state’s Growth Management Act.
“I really want to make Ridgefield a place where anyone who wants to make it home can do so. [If] you want to live in Ridgefield, then it should be available to everybody, and I think in order to do that, we have to provide housing options for families at all income levels,” Cole said.
Another passion for Cole is making Ridgefield’s parks more accessible to all residents.
The city recently approved a 15-acre park in Paradise Pointe in north Ridgefield and an 8-acre waterfront park master plan. Cole has emphasized the importance of ensuring these and future parks include features for people of all abilities. He plans to ask city staff detailed questions to ensure accessibility is prioritized in all future park developments.
“That’s huge to me … I grew up in a home where we always had foster children, and my mother has worked with special needs kids throughout her whole life. I’ve had that connection to that. I have a couple of brothers who are special needs, and, to me, making sure that our parks are accessible to all abilities is a huge priority,” Cole said.
Cole is optimistic about Ridgefield’s future and looks forward to being a part of its growth. He plans to seek another term when his current one ends in January 2026.