City Manager Has Long History with Tarpon

Mark LeCouris has a long history with the city of Tarpon Springs. Over the years, LeCouris has earned a respectable reputation, from his time on the Tarpon Springs Police Department to his current role as the City Manager.

LeCouris is ingrained in the community now, but he wasn’t the first from his family to be immersed in Tarpon Springs.

His grandfather, Angelo LeCouris, was a local sponge diver, and his grandmother, Pearl LeCouris, was one of the first telephone operators in the city. LeCouris’ father, Blaine, was a Tarpon Springs police official, which would prove to be a strand in the bloodline.  

With the original intent to become a lawyer, LeCouris’ career path changed after a stint on the auxiliary police force while he was in college. He says that at first it was just for the experience, but mom knew better.

“She said, ‘You’re going to be a cop aren’t you?' ” remembered LeCouris with a smile.

LeCouris was hired as a patrol officer in 1978. He was two weeks shy of being able to buy his own bullets. At the time, the law required customers to be a minimum age of 21 to purchase bullets.

He says that from that point on, the law degree “went out the window” and that he had found his true calling as a police officer.

“I think it was in my blood,” LeCouris said. “I think the community drew me in, and the thought of making a difference just overwhelmed everything else.”

LeCouris worked his way up the ranks of the Tarpon Springs Police Department, where he eventually became the chief.

On his way to the top, he discovered another avenue to distribute his good will: at-risk youth. LeCouris helped initiate Cops and Kids, an organization dedicated to offering after-school programs to qualified students.

He says that he built a solid relationship with the city during his time on the force. LeCouris was involved in all things Tarpon Springs.

So, when the city manager position opened up, he was faced with the option to leave the department and connect to the community in a different way. LeCouris followed his gut and took on the position with an open mind. After all, he was already more than familiar with the inner workings of the city.

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Over the years, LeCouris has witnessed an evolution that is full of irony. He says that a lot has changed, but the appeal of the community remains the same.

“Although we are doing everything professionally and in new ways, we haven’t lost that culture and that small town feel,” said LeCouris.

Like anyone else, LeCouris has hobbies outside of his work. A self-proclaimed sports buff, he roots for local teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“That’s my escape,” LeCouris confessed.

Currently, LeCouris’ plate is filled with city meetings and budget discussions. He says that the future is bright and open. There are no plans to change his status anytime soon. LeCouris is proud to represent Tarpon Springs and the tight-knit network of people is what he says keeps him going.

“We bicker like a family, but we stand together when we need to,” LeCouris said. “That’s just what Tarpon is about.”