Council Member Mark LaRusso was first elected to office on November 6, 2018, and was and re-elected on November 8, 2022, by the city at large to serve on the Melbourne City Council as the representative of District 2 (view map of Council Districts). His current term extends to November 2026. He served as Vice Mayor from November 2022 until November 2023. He is a member of the Melbourne Orlando International Airport Authority Board and an alternate member of the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization.

Council Member LaRusso and his family moved to Melbourne in 1993 from Coral Springs, Florida, after he joined an international foodservice disposables company as national sales manager. Mark served on the Y.M.C.A. Board for North Broward as well as on several ad-hoc committees and carried his volunteer spirit with him when he moved to Melbourne. He began serving on several local boards including Families of the Shield and Citizens Action Board (Brevard County), and he served as president of The Sanctuary Homeowners Association.

Council Member LaRusso’s first position with the City of Melbourne was in 2003. He was appointed by the City Council to a board position on the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Having served a year, LaRusso went on to be elected as a council member for the City of Melbourne representing District 2 in 2004 through 2012. During his time as a council member he was appointed by the mayor and fellow council members to the Melbourne Orlando International Airport Authority, Space Coast Transportation and Planning Organization (TPO) and the to the Tax and Finance Committee through the Florida League of Cities.

Council Member LaRusso played a valuable role in his position helping to usher in new leadership at the airport in 2004 and helping to prioritize infrastructure projects within the city. In addition, he served two terms as the city's vice mayor and was a steady hand helping to guide the city through the great recession from 2006 through 2011.  

In 2018, LaRusso was elected to serve his city for an additional four-year term. During his term, he has been instrumental in securing $1,980,000 from Tallahassee for Indian River Lagoon and Eau Gallie River projects. Both projects grew directly from his campaign promise of making the Lagoon a priority. Additionally, Council Member LaRusso serves as an alternate board member on the TPO.

Council Member LaRusso is the owner and founder of a start-up paper distribution company opened in 2010 in Melbourne that currently employs five full- and part-time employees. LaRusso has been married for 38 years. He and his wife Randy Beth LaRusso raised their daughter in Melbourne. He boasts that Melbourne is home to four generations of family including two beautiful grandchildren.