Candidate for
Council Member; City of Fresno; Council District 1

Mark Castro was born and raised in the city of Fresno, California. His family has resided within Fresno County for nearly three generations. Mark is a small business owner he owns and operates a small family run trucking company, Castro & Castro. Additionally, he is a lawyer, runs his own full service law firm, Castro Law Group, PC. As a business owner he has continually employed numerous people and has created new jobs as his company expanded. Mark understands that jobs are the primary driving force and strong backbone of a healthy economy.

Marks tenacity, hard work, and dedication are instrumental qualities which he can bring towards representing District 1. His job creation background gives him the knowledge, fortitude and understanding of what it takes to possess a strong economy and create a better quality of life within the City of Fresno. Furthermore, his legal knowledge and experience will help him and the residents of the City of Fresno navigate the issues and challenges which face us today and our path towards growing as a City. His goal is to bring and create better jobs to create a better Fresno.

Family Background

The Castro's have been Fresno County residents for over three generations. The Castro's migrated from Kansas to Fresno County California where their story began as pioneers who spurred growth within the Westside of the Valley. David Castro, Marks grandfather, worked in the fields along his two sons Louie and Robert. Louie, Mark's father, picked cotton around the age of five years old to help provide a living for his family.

After working day and night in the fields of Fresno County during the 1950's David Castro saved up enough money to buy his first truck, and the family trucking company was born. Since then until today, Castro trucking has been one of the most reputable and reliable agriculture transportation companies out on the Westside of Fresno County.

Mark learned his hard work and passion by becoming actively engaged with his family's business since he was 5 himself. He spent every summer out in the fields tying down loads for the truck drivers his family employed. By the age of 15 he began dispatching all the trucks and managing the operations of the company. Experience that would become useful to him later on as he had to take over the family business.

Education

Upon matriculating from Central East High school, Mark attended Notre Dame de Namur University. Where he was recognized for his outstanding academic achievement by attaining the Dean's list. While at Notre Dame Mark learned the invaluable skills of civic engagement by participating in events which include, but are not limited to, speaking and reading to children at local schools serving at risk youth. He also had the rare and unique opportunity to intern for a former Fresno Deputy district Attorney, and former Assemblyman Pedro Nava. While interning he had the opportunity to participate in events that included pushing legislation for better water and sewers for small rural areas in the region which he represented.

Track record for Growth

After graduating from Notre Dame in four years, where he double majored in Political Science and History. Mark returned to Fresno with his newly acquired skills he garnered at the fine institution of Notre Dame and began to apply these in his community. Upon moving back, Mark immediately began to volunteer as an AmeriCorps Ambassador and simultaneously took over his families trucking company. At this time Mark also decided to pursue his lifelong goal of becoming an attorney. In 2008, Mark was accepted into San Joaquin College of Law.

While attending San Joaquin College of Law, Mark was recognized for his outstanding academic achievement and received awards which include, but are not limited to be recognized as a semi-finalist best oral advocate in the George Hopper Moot Court competition. Mark graduated from San Joaquin College of Law being recognized as receiving the Witkin Award in Private Labor Law.

Today, Mark is an attorney practicing under his own firm, Castro Law Group, PC where he primarily focuses on family law and civil litigation. Furthermore, he utilizes his legal skills to assist his trucking company and doing pro-bono work for various other trucking companies, assisting them to stay in compliance with the new regulations imposed upon the trucking industry by the State of California.

Closing

Growing up in the city of Fresno his entire life, Mark has a true understanding of the issues we face today and is committed to tackling those issues head on. Today, Mark Castro is committed to creating better jobs for a better Fresno and he brings the unique experience and understanding of what it takes to create jobs. His goal is to ensure there is a better quality of life for all Fresnan's by addressing the job issues facing the economy today, by building and creating Better Jobs he envisions a Better Fresno for generations to come.