Steve Van Gorden  Mayor Steve Van Gorden, 36, was elected in April of 2012. He serves as the Principal of Zephyrhills High School and is a proud father of daughter Kaitlyn, 11 and son Aiden, 8.

Born in Hoxie, Arkansas and raised in Spring Hill, he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Studies Education in 1997 from the University of South Florida. He went on to complete a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from Saint Leo University in 2000. He also has over 120 doctoral credits from the University of South Florida and Nova Southeastern University. He is planning on completing his dissertation in Organizational Leadership.

He has been the top dog at ZHS since 2009. Prior to that, he served as the Principal of Hudson Middle School from October 2005 to April 2009. He is an Instructor at the Pasco-Hernando Community College's Educator Preparation Institute. He also serves as an Intern Supervisor at Southeastern University in Lakeland.

Van Gorden began his teaching career at Pasco Middle School and Pasco High School in 1997. During his tenure at Pasco Middle and Pasco High he coached football, basketball and wrestling. In 1999, he became Athletic Director of Pasco Middle School. In July 2000 he became the Assistant Principal for Adult and Community Education at Land O' Lakes High School and Wesley Chapel High School.

He served as City Commissioner in Dade City and was Mayor Pro Tem from 2004-2009. He is Member of Zephyr Lodge 198, Noon Rotary Zephyrhills (President Elect), and the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce (President Elect & Board Member). He graduated from the Leadership Pasco Class of 2007.