mˈæθiəz bɪɡˈæn hɪz pəlˈɪɾɪkəl kɚɹˈɪɹ ɪn ˈoʊʃən sˈɪɾi ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi sˈɛvən wɛn hiː wʌz ɐpˈɔɪntᵻd tə ðɪ ˈoʊʃən sˈɪɾi bˈoːɹd ʌv zˈoʊnɪŋ ɐpˈiːlz, wˌɛɹ hiː sˈɜːvd ʌntˈɪl nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti.
Mathias began his political career in Ocean City in 1987 when he was appointed to the Ocean City Board of Zoning Appeals, where he served until 1990.