Demetrios Koutsoupias was appointed to fill the vacant seat for Ward 1 by the Gastonia City Council on June 18, 2024. He is a highly accomplished professional with diverse leadership experience in the public and private sectors, including local municipal government. He is the owner of Georgio’s Restaurant in Cramerton, NC performing various duties related to finance, marketing, budgeting, and community outreach.
His history includes serving as Town Commissioner and Mayor Pro Tempore for the Town of Cramerton, NC for eight years. As an elected official, Commissioner Koutsoupias was involved in the planning for future growth and development in the region, by serving on the Metropolitan Planning Organization to discuss future regional transportation plans and improvements. He served on the Cramerton Planning and Zoning Advisory Board and as the liaison to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
His community involvement includes mentoring youth through teaching and coaching basketball at Stuart W. Cramer High School and the Cramerton Recreation Department. He contributed to the inception of the Stuart W. Cramer High School Athletic Booster Club by establishing it as a federal non-profit (501c-3) public charity organization. He continues to serve on the Bethesda Oaks Neighborhood Architectural Review Committee.
Demetrios attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He, his wife Margarita, and their two boys are excited to have a meaningful impact on the future of Gastonia and its continued mission to be a great place to live.