Mayor's Office

Donald Mason is a lifelong resident of Zanesville, Ohio and was elected to office on November 5th, 2019 with over 65% of the vote, winning every precinct.

Community Improvements

Mason has long been committed to public service. After graduating from Muskingum University in 1979, where he majored in Political Science and History, he was elected as a write in candidate to the Zanesville City Council in 1979 and served on the council through 1983. 

In 1983, at the age of 26, Mason was elected Mayor of the City of Zanesville, where he oversaw natural gas and cable negotiations, water and sewer infrastructure development and other public works projects. Including within the projects was a development of the water; sewer, electricity and natural gas infrastructure in an industrial park of over 600 acres, which became the city's 'flagship' for business and economic growth. He was subsequently re-elected in 1987. 

Furthermore, Mason's administration built the first water treatment facility in Zanesville, in order to remove many of the heavy minerals which were causing damage to hot water tanks, plumbing, laundry and domestic consumption.

Leaving Local Government

Leaving local government in 1991, Mason then became Chief of the Division of Oil and Gas at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) where he supervised regulatory activities and developed environmental programs for the safe and healthy extraction of oil and gas resources, including hydraulic fracturing and the disposal activity of oil and gas by-products including UIC Class I, II and III permitting. He also served on the Hazardous Waste Facilities Board, which reviewed permits for hazardous waste storage sites in Ohio. 

From 1993 to 1995, as Deputy Director of ODNR, he supervised the Divisions of Parks, Forestry, Watercraft, Natural Area Preserves, and Wildlife. Those agencies totaled over 2000 employees and $100,000,000 in annual budgets.

Past Service

His past public service included serving two terms as Commissioner of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. He was first appointed to the PUCO in 1998 by Governor George Voinovich and reappointed in 2003. In each appointment he was nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Ohio Senate. The PUCO regulates investor owned electricity, natural gas, telephone and water and sewer companies in Ohio.

Mayor Mason was appointed by former U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham and reappointed by Secretary Samuel Bodman to serve on the National Petroleum Council. He was a member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) where he served as Chairman of the Gas Committee and member of the Board of Directors. Additionally, he was a government representative and Chairman on the U.S. Department of Transportation's Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Committee. Mason also served as chairman of the Gas Technology Institute Public Interest Advisory Committee.

Commission Service

Commissioner Mason has served Ohio on the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) appointed by Governor George V. Voinovich and Governor Bob Taft from 1995 until 2010 and Governor John Kasich subsequently reappointed him in 2014. At the IOGCC, he chaired various committees, eventually becoming vice-chair from 2003 to 2004 of the Commission, serving with then chairman Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico and Alaska Commissioner and future Governor Sarah Palin.

After leaving state service, Donald L. Mason also served the State of Ohio as Commissioner of the Oil and Gas Commission, and presently is a trustee of Kent State University. He serves as Chairman of the Investment Committee.

Additionally, he has served his community as Chairman of the Zanesville Planning Commission, member of the Board of Zoning Appeals, Downtown Design Review Board and Design Review Board as appointed by former Mayor Howard 'Butch' Zwelling.

Mason graduated with a degree in political science from Muskingum College where he was the first NCAA All American wrestler ever at Muskingum and later earned his law degree from Capital University, graduating cum laud.

Memberships

Mason is the Past-President of the 106 Year Old Zanesville Rotary with over 39 years of perfect attendance and is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow. He is also a 32nd degree Mason, Shriner, and a member of the several other Masonic organizations such as York and Scottish Rites, Amrou Grotto and the Knights of Columbus.

Community Service

In 2010, he received an award for Outstanding Community Service by the Grandmaster of all Ohio Masons. Mason continues to serve Muskingum County as President of the Board of Trustees of the Muskingum County Library System.

Public Service

He is in his 42nd year as an Ohio high school wrestling official. He has been was selected to referee the Ohio High School State Wrestling Championships on numerous occasions. He is a member of the Zanesville High School and Muskingum University Halls of Fame. He is a lifetime member of the NAACP, where he serves on the Muskingum County Chapter Board and has been the Master of ceremonies for the Annual Freedom Fund Dinner.