Mark B. McCracken, age 44, is a lifelong resident of Clearfield County, growing up in the village of Woodland approximately 6 miles east of Clearfield.  His grandfather worked in the coal mines in Bradford Township and his father, a veteran of World War II, worked for many years as a truck driver where he was a member of the Teamsters union.  Mark graduated from Clearfield Area High School and the Clearfield County Career and Technology Center in 1981 and continued his education in information technology at the ICM School of Business in Pittsburgh.

From 1983 to 1988, Mark was employed as a data systems programmer with North American Refractories Company, (NARCO), working out of the Engineering Department in Curwensville Pa.  During his 4 1/2 years with NARCO, Mark traveled to many of the NARCO brickyards in North America working on projects to bring computer automation to refractory brick production.

In January of 1988, Mark was hired by Clearfield County Government to serve as Director of Information Technology.  Over the 16 years that Mark managed the IT Department, information technology in county government grew and expanded in many innovative ways.  Mark, working with elected officials and department directors, brought computer automation to every office and department in Clearfield County Government.

In 1993, Mark was elected to the first of three terms on the Clearfield Area School District Board of Directors.  When Mark was a candidate for school director in 1993, 1997 and 2001, he cross-filed and consistently finished with the most votes in both the Democratic and Republican primary elections and in the November general elections.

During his tenure on the school board, Mark gained a reputation as a board member who worked with his fellow board members, school administrators, teachers and parents to solve issues and problems affecting the school district.  Using his experience gained from 10 years as a school director, Mark will be a strong advocate for a better public education system when he is elected to Congress.

In 2003, Mark decided to use his experience working in county government combined with his service on the school board and run for the office of Clearfield County Commissioner.  In his first countywide campaign effort, Mark finished first in a 4 candidate Democratic primary race and received the most votes in the November 2003 general election.

When Mark took office as county commissioner in January of 2004, he and his fellow county commissioners inherited a deficit budget with a dwindling fund balance along with a stalled economic development policy.  During the next 4 years, Mark worked with the other commissioners, balanced the county budget and grew the fund balance to $2.9 million at the end of 2007. 

Ethanol plant construction in Clearfield.

In 2004, the Clearfield County Commissioners named the Clearfield County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC), as the lead economic development agency for the county.  Economic development efforts were turned over to the CCEDC Board of Directors who put in place a dynamic staff to oversee economic development for the county.  The results speak for themselves as Clearfield County is seeing over $500 million in development projects from new industries including BioEnergy and Sunnyside ethanol and River Hill Power.  The CCEDC has also helped existing businesses like Rescar in DuBois rebuild and expand and has assisted in relocating businesses like Hydro-Spray from Ohio to Clearfield County.  Clearfield County has also become a leader in regional tourism promotion initiatives, joining the Pennsylvania Wilds, supporting the Rock Run ATV Park and using innovative ways to market Clearfield County’s tourism assets.   

While the big news items like economic development tend to be the things elected officials build their reputations on, Mark has also worked to build a solid record working for individual citizens.  One of the strengths Mark has shown as both a school director and county commissioner is his ability to work and solve the problems that individuals bring to him.  He will bring that same caring and compassionate attitude towards his constituents to Congress. 

Building off a successful and productive first term as county commissioner, Mark ran for reelection in 2007 and received the most votes in both the Democratic primary election and November general election. 

Community service is a big part of the experience Mark will bring to Congress.  Through the years, Mark has served on many boards including the Clearfield United Way, the Clearfield Chapter of the American Red Cross, Central Pennsylvania Community Action and the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging. 

Our daughter Amanda with Chloe, our family dog.

Last but not least, it is important that you know about Mark McCracken and his family.  The most important people in Mark’s life are his wife Kelly and his daughter Amanda.  Kelly and Amanda will always be Mark’s biggest supporters.  Mark’s immediate family includes his father Blair, older brothers Randy and his wife Ann, Tim and his wife Marsha along with 4 nephews, 4 nieces and 9 great nephews and nieces. 

The McCracken family roots are strong in Clearfield County and north central Pennsylvania.  In running for Congress, one commitment Mark is making to the citizens of the 5th District is to be a full time resident of the district.  While he will be required to spend a great amount of time representing the 5th District in Washington, his family will live in Clearfield.  It will be a sacrifice to be away from his family but, it is the same sacrifice that working fathers have to make all the time.