Matthew “Matt” Rhoten is the Deputy County Manager for Gaston County. He joined Gaston County Government in 2014 as an Intern and has worked his way up through the ranks, from Budget Analyst to Budget Director to Financial & Management Services Director to Assistant County Manager to now Deputy County Manager. He also serves as an Adjunct professor at UNC Charlotte’s MPA Program.
As Deputy County Manager, Matt will oversee essential public safety and administrative/general government departments, including Budget & Management Services, County Police, Emergency Management & Fire Services, Finance, Gaston Emergency Medical Services, Human Resources, Information Technology, and the Tax Office. He will also serve as the acting manager in the absence of the County Manager.
Originally from Tennessee, Matt received his B.S. in Political Science from East Tennessee State University and his MPA from UNC Charlotte. He also has an M.S. in Community & Economic Development from University of Central Arkansas and is a Municipal & County Administration Course Graduate from The School of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Matt currently lives in Gaston County with his wife, Lacey, and their two children, Mia and Reid.