The Wildomar City Council voted unanimously on Friday afternoon to appoint Chris Mann as the city’s new city manager. Mann has been serving as its interim city manager since May 14 and will now officially take on the permanent role.
Mann brings more than 25 years of local government experience to Wildomar, including successful tenures as city manager for the cities of Yucaipa and Canyon Lake, where he earned a reputation for fiscal responsibility, innovative leadership, and community-focused results.
During his time in Yucaipa, Mann was credited with eliminating a structural budget deficit, passing a new revenue measure, significantly reducing homelessness, leading the city to be named one of the safest in California, and creating award-winning communications efforts.
In Canyon Lake, Mann turned an $800,000 deficit into a surplus and played a key role in launching the city’s first municipal fire department.
“We have been pleased with Chris’ performance as our interim city manager and are excited to be able to retain him in the role on a permanent basis,” Mayor Ashlee DePhillippo said. “Chris is a highly experienced municipal executive known for driving innovation, fiscal responsibility, and effective communications. His experience aligns well with Wildomar’s needs as we continue to grow and explore new economic development and infrastructure opportunities.”
As the city manager of Wildomar, Mann will oversee the day-to-day operations of the city and serve as the chief executive officer responsible for implementing city council policies across all departments, including Community Development, Public Works/Engineering, Administrative Services, and Economic Development.
“Wildomar holds a special place in my heart,” Mann said upon his appointment in May. “Having supported the city and its leaders since its early years, it’s truly an honor to step into this role. I’m committed to bringing focus, energy, and transparency to City Hall. Together with the city council and staff, we will prioritize economic development, modern communications, and high-quality public services for the residents of Wildomar.”
Mann holds bachelor’s degrees in psychology and political science from California Lutheran University and is completing a Master of Public Administration degree at San Diego State University. He is also a graduate of the International City/County Management Association’s High Performance Leadership Academy. His active professional affiliations include the California City Management Foundation (CCMF), the Municipal Management Association of Southern California (MMASC), the American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME), and the American Society for Public Administration.
