My name is Donald Mason and I want to be your choice for Hazleton's mayor in 2024.
I am a native Pennsylvanian since the age of two. My heritage is a mix of Italian, Irish, and English. My grandfather attended Harvard University and was an attorney who practiced in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. I spent my formative years in the Bucks County area and currently reside in Hazleton, PA with my significant other, Janice Wasmanski, a registered nurse. I am a die-hard everything Philly for sports, and a lover of Italian and Spanish cuisines. I'd be honored for you to learn more about me and why I deserve to be your next mayor.
MILITARY SERVICE: A FAMILY LEGACY
My family have served in the military as far back as the American Civil War. In this last century my cousin Andy Cella retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Colonel. My cousin Robins’ husband retired from the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant Commander. And my father and uncle both served in the Army. I of course followed my family’s military tradition of service by enlisting in the military eventually serving in three branches of the military (U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S, Army) and retired in 2019.
Following in the family tradition of service to our community, my son Wade is currently in the U.S. Army and serves as a Combat Medic; and my daughter Amanda is also forging a career in service to the community, as she is currently enrolled in the Emergency Medical Technician program at Luzerne County Community College.
MILITARY SERVICE: MY STORY
By age 18, I was serving as a Security Policeman in the United States Air Force. When I was discharged from the United States Air Force, I decided to challenge myself and became a United States Marine and found myself transferred to San Diego, CA. After my tour ended with the Marines, I once again challenged myself and applied for and was selected as an officer candidate with the California Army National Guard; eventually leaving service in 1992.
However, after the events of 9/11 which had a profound effect on me, I once again answered the call to serve and re-enlisted into the Army on 12 September 2007, to honor those who lost their lives during the terror attacks on NYC. I then served for the next twelve years until retiring in 2019 as a Senior Enlisted Leader. While enlisted in the Army I held several positions to include Military Police Instructor, Counterintelligence Agent, Operational Security Manager, and Platoon Sergeant. Additionally, I worked with the Department of Homeland Security as a supervisor for anti-drug and cartel operations; and subsequently deployed several times. My last deployment was to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where I served as the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Training, and subsequently receiving recognition from General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Army and Joint Service Achievement medals for exceptional service.
VOLUNTEERISM: SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY
While in high school and after my first military enlistment, I served as a volunteer first responder for the Yardley-Makefield Emergency Unit, where I was recognized for my first life save. Since that time, I have been involved as a volunteer in many other community-based organizations, to include: the Special Olympics, Muscular Dystrophy, The Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and others. While in California I organized the San Diego Rockers Against AIDS benefit concert raising money in the fight against AS.I.D.S. Additionally, I was the founder of San Diego Volunteers, a volunteer emergency services organization which remained in service for nine years. For those efforts I was nationally recognized and honored with the Carol Tracy Community Service Award. Soon after I was able to raise funds to replace thousands of toys lost to flooding at the San Diego Salvation Army toy center just weeks before Christmas. It was because of my lifetime of volunteerism that in 2013 the United States Army awarded me the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.
EDUCATION
Throughout my life I have always remained busy but have been fortunate enough to gain an education. In 2004 I attended Miramar and Mesa colleges where I received Associate of Arts and Science degrees in Child Development, Psychology, and American History in 2006. In 2008, I received my BA in European History from the University of California San Diego. In 2009 I received my master's in criminal justice from Boston University, and in 2010 I received my master's in business administration with a focus in Non-Profit Management. And in 2011, I began my Post Graduate studies in Psychology towards a Doctorate in Psychology.
BUSINESS VENTURES, OWNERSHIP, & TEACHING
While not serving in the military, and in some cases while serving, I have found myself managing several restaurants and eventually opened a full-service restaurant in San Diego with a business partner, which I remained part of for several years. After which, I spent nine years as an Associate Professor of Business for the Forbes School of Business and a Associate Professor of Criminology for Ashford University, before retiring from teaching in 2016.
SERVICE ORGANIZATION AFFILIATIONS
As a Disabled Veteran I am a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign War because of my wartime service. I also have been a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, American Legion, Marine Corps League, the Moose Lodge, and the Philadelphia Italian American Social Club.
POST MILITARY RETIREMENT: CONTINUED SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY
After retiring from military service, I was employed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist until 2021. Today I currently own Donald Mason Consulting, a restaurant consulting firm that offers free services to fledgling restaurants that are in urgent need for operational and financial advice.
Decades of Integrity - Decades of Leadership - Decades of Service, that's what I bring to Hazleton, PA.
I know the value of community. On Thanksgiving of 2008 the news reported that the Salvation Army lost over 300 toys when their storage facility was flooded. As founder of San Diego Volunteers I was able to replenish those toys and was humbled that I was able to make a difference in the lives of over 300 families and their children on Christmas day.
As I have always been blessed, I felt it was important not to forget those who were homeless and forgotten by others. Each year on Christmas night while living in San Diego, CA,. myself, Domenick Schurck, Stuart Glaser, and a few others provided meals and clothes to those who were sleeping on the street and hungry. It was our belief that as we were fortunate throughout the year that we could sacrifice this one night for the sole purpose of letting the few know that they were not forgotten.
In February 2009, I received a phone call from a staffer from The Center of Missing and Exploited Children. A young girl named Chelsea King was abducted. While there were volunteers to search the streets, there was nobody at that moment who had experience in rough terrain search. I quickly assembeled a team of experienced in searches of this kind and we began our work; unfortyantely the outcome was devastating to all those involved. For the next few years if needed myself and members of my organization, San Diego Volunteers, assisted as needed in a variety of functions.
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