Matthew Chidester is the City Manager for the City of Half Moon Bay. He oversees the daily operations of the City, and assists the City Council with complex policy decisions and implementation. Matthew previously served as Half Moon Bay’s Assistant City Manager from 2017 to 2022. Prior to that Matthew spent 14 years at the County of San Mateo, in the Airports Division of Public Works, and in the Real Property and Budget and Performance units of the County Executive’s Office. During that time, he represented the County on the development of the new Fair Oaks Health Center and the Half Moon Bay Library.  

Matthew has a Master’s Degree in Leadership and Management and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, and graduated from the Local Governance Summer Institute at Stanford University.

A native of the Coastside, Matthew and his wife are proud parents of six children and two sweet English Labs. They love camping in the Redwoods, exploring new areas of California, and traveling abroad.