Matthew Brach
CA
Matthew Brach is a small business owner who was vice chair of the Rancho Palos Verdes Planning Commission and president of the Palos Verdes Peninsula school board. He wants to tackle the landslide, wildfire risk, roads and burglaries while keeping decisions local.
Where Matthew Brach stands, based on their records
Supports
Housing Affordability (1 record)
Mixed record
Government Spending Reduction (1 support · 1 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 1 support · 1 oppose
Voted with the full school board to put a school construction bond on the March 3, 2020 ballot. The bond needed 55% of the vote to pass.
November 6, 2019Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: agendaonline.net
Voted with the full school board to cut costs in the 2019-20 budget and to lay off some non-teaching staff. The board also asked staff for more ways to cut.
March 13, 2019Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: agendaonline.net
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 1 support
Voted with a 6-1 Planning Commission majority to recommend that Rancho Palos Verdes make its state-required housing plan zoning changes permanent.
May 14, 2024Supports Housing Affordability
Source: rpv.granicus.com
Track record — General
General · 14 records
Made the motion to recommend new rules for cell towers on private property in Rancho Palos Verdes. It added ideas such as a citywide coverage plan. It passed 7-0.
April 14, 2026
Source: rpv.granicus.com
Made the motion to recommend zoning code updates tied to the city's new building rules for the Portuguese Bend landslide area. It passed 5-1.
September 23, 2025
Source: rpv.granicus.com
Made the motion to delay a Planning Commission decision on keeping an AT&T cell tower on a Western Avenue office building. The delay failed 3-4.
July 22, 2025
Source: rpv.granicus.com
Was chosen by the Rancho Palos Verdes Planning Commission as its vice chair, starting July 1, 2025.
June 10, 2025
Source: rpv.granicus.com
As a Rancho Palos Verdes planning commissioner, voted no on ordering a neighbor to trim 19 trees to restore an ocean view. It passed 5-2.
May 23, 2023
Source: rpv.granicus.com
Led a federal lawsuit by 14 parents and a student against Gov. Newsom's 2020 orders closing schools to in-person classes. The full Ninth Circuit court dismissed the case as moot because the orders had ended.
June 15, 2022
Source: cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov
Made the motion for a school board statement that the district was not a party to and did not support Brach v. Newsom, his own lawsuit against the governor's school closure order. It passed 5-0.
August 5, 2020
Source: agendaonline.net
Made the motion for a resolution letting the school district cut staff work days and pay in 2020-21 if state budget cuts required it. It passed 5-0.
June 24, 2020
Source: agendaonline.net
Made the motion to move Rancho del Mar, the district's alternative high school, to the Malaga Cove site for the 2020-21 school year. It passed 4-1.
June 9, 2020
Source: agendaonline.net
Made the motion for a temporary 'no harm' grading policy during COVID-19 school closures. Students could keep or raise their March 13 grades or choose pass/no credit. It passed 3-2.
May 13, 2020
Source: agendaonline.net
Voted no on the application process for the school parcel tax oversight committee. The approved version asked applicants if they would file a state financial disclosure form. It passed 3-2.
March 11, 2020
Source: agendaonline.net
Cast the lone no vote on hiring Isom Advisors as the school district's financial adviser for its proposed construction bond. The contracts passed 4-1.
December 11, 2019
Source: agendaonline.net
Voted with a 3-2 board majority to have staff draft a resolution backing SB 328, a state bill to start middle and high school no earlier than 8:30 a.m.
February 27, 2019
Source: agendaonline.net
Took the oath of office as a newly elected member of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District board.
December 12, 2018
Source: agendaonline.net
Track record — Candidate Ethics
Candidate Ethics · 1 record
Agreed to pay a $1,823 state fine for filing six campaign finance reports late for his 2018 school board campaign. The state Fair Political Practices Commission found he broke state reporting law.
October 21, 2021
Source: fppc.ca.gov
Past race Matthew Brach ran in:
- Member of the City Council · November 3, 2026 · Rancho Palos Verdes city, California