ˈæftɚ vˈoʊɾɚz tʃˈeɪndʒd ðə fˈɔːɹm ʌv ɡˈʌvɚnmənt tə dᵻɹˈɛktli ᵻlˈɛkt mˈeɪɚz ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi wˈʌn, mˈæθjuːz wʌz ᵻlˈɛktᵻd mˈeɪɚɹ ˌɔn dʒˈuːn fˈɪftiːn, nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi tˈuː, ˌoʊvɚ dʒˈeɪmz ˈɛl. ˈʌsɹi.
After voters changed the form of government to directly elect mayors in 1981, Matthews was elected mayor on June 15, 1982, over James L. Usry.