Mark Zuppo, Democrat, and long-standing “voice” of Girard sports wants to usher in a new era of leadership for the City of Girard. There is no vision too big for us to achieve
TOGETHER. With an open mind and open ears, he is urging your participation and asking for your vote for Mayor in the Democratic primary on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.
One of Mark’s main attributes is being able to spot a good idea, anyone’s idea. This is where your vision comes into place, as members of the Girard community.
We must have plans in place to move forward. With your help, listening to your voice, we will develop plans for every aspect of our community.
Mark has proudly served his community in public office for over 30 years. During this time, he held several roles, beginning as a Councilman in 1992, where he served for eight years. He’s also served the City as Recreation Director (two years) and presently serves as City Treasurer (nine years).
He currently serves on the Girard School Board and has for 16 years, nine of them as School Board President. He was intricately involved in the process of building the new Junior + Senior High School. During his tenure, Girard has blossomed to become one of the premier school districts, not just in the Mahoning Valley, but the entire State of Ohio. The Girard School District boasts high ranking status in the state and the nation, with top tier state-measured report cards year after year, nationally and internationally renowned robotics, and a STEM curriculum that is second to none. Girard athletic teams are based in the philosophy of Positive Coaching, something Mark has spent 20 years promoting. He is currently spearheading the process of building a new Performing Arts Center (auditorium) at Girard High School, without asking the taxpayers for any new funding.
Mark has also instructed and inspired the youth of Girard since 1975. His passion for coaching began with Little League baseball. He coached in the Girard Baseball Association for over 30 years and served as its President for ten of them. He has also coached youth basketball grades four through eight for over 25 years in varying capacities. He is currently on the Girard Junior High boys basketball coaching staff as a volunteer assistant. A role he’s filled for over 10 years.
Mark was key in helping to form the Girard Alumni Association in 1996 and was the founder and co-chair of the annual golf outing, which has raised many thousands of dollars for Girard Athletics since its inception. Around the same time, he also helped to forge the Girard Hall of Fame and served as that body’s President for 19 years.
One of his great joys has been volunteering to play the role of Santa Claus for Girard City Schools and the greater community for the past 20+ years. Over this same time, he’s also volunteered his time to read to students during Read Across America Day each year.
Mark may be best known as the “voice of Girard” athletics for the past 26 years. He has been a staple as the PA announcer on Friday nights at Arrowhead stadium, at both boys’ and girls’ basketball, and at the annual Special Olympics event hosted in Girard each year. He was honored to be inducted into the Girard Hall of Fame in 2017 as the “Community Service Award” recipient, for his long-standing work and dedication to the youth of Girard. He was also honored by the Girard Baseball Association for dedicating over 30 years to coaching the youth of Girard, by being inducted into its RING OF HONOR!
