BIO
Chris Mann serves as City Manager for the City of Wildomar, California. He is an experienced city executive with a diverse professional background spanning local government administration, public affairs, political strategy, and real estate development and management. This breadth of experience informs a pragmatic, results-oriented approach to local government leadership.
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Prior to joining Wildomar, Chris served as City Manager for the City of Yucaipa, California, where he successfully accomplished every goal set by the City Council. During his tenure, he drafted and implemented a comprehensive Homeless Strategic Plan that reduced unsheltered homelessness by 82 percent in just 15 months and expanded proactive policing initiatives that contributed to Yucaipa being named the safest city of its size in California and the ninth safest in the nation.
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​Over that same period, he corrected a $7.3 million structural budget deficit and set the City on a path toward long-term fiscal stability through the passage of Measure S (a one-percent sales tax), the renegotiation of the City’s solid waste hauling agreement, targeted cost-recovery efforts, and disciplined financial management. He also prioritized infrastructure investment, directing a record $4.1 million toward road maintenance and repair.
Under his leadership, Yucaipa advanced major economic development initiatives, including adoption of the award-winning Wine Country Specific Plan and the attraction of businesses such as Trader Joe’s and Raising Cane’s. Chris also led efforts to enhance transparency and public trust through the adoption of a Sunshine Ordinance and by modernizing communications and public engagement, including the launch of the Yucaipa 360 podcast, which won the California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO) 2025 Epic Award for best government podcast.
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In his first City Manager role, Chris served the City of Canyon Lake, California, where he was widely credited with professionalizing city staffing and operations and reversing long-standing fiscal challenges. There, he implemented a series of quality-of-life and revenue-enhancing programs that increased General Fund revenue by 31 percent in less than two years without raising taxes, taking the City’s budget from a deficit of more than $800,000 to a surplus of approximately $400,000.
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Chris also led the City’s successful effort to establish its own municipal fire department. The Canyon Lake Fire Department went into service on January 1, 2022, saving the City hundreds of thousands of dollars in its first year of operation while improving staffing levels and response times compared to the prior county-operated model.
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Earlier in his career, Chris served as an Administrative Analyst and Deputy Chief of Staff for a member of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors and owned and operated a public affairs consulting firm focused on land use, communications, and intergovernmental relations. He has held elected office multiple times, first winning election to the Westlake Village City Council at age 23, becoming Mayor at 26, and later serving on two elected water boards.
Chris holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from San Diego State University and bachelor’s degrees in psychology and political science from California Lutheran University. He is a graduate of the ICMA High Performance Leadership Academy and maintains active professional affiliations with the California City Management Foundation, the Municipal Management Association of Southern California, the American Association of Municipal Executives, and the American Society for Public Administration.
He is also the host of Gov360, a podcast focused on leadership, governance, and professional development in local government. Chris lives in Yucaipa with his wife and children.
Education
2024-2025
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA
1995-1999
California Lutheran University
Thousand Oaks, CA
1991-1995
Chaminade College Preparatory High School
West Hills, CA
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
​Completed a rigorous, executive-focused MPA with emphasis on public sector leadership, public finance, policy development, and applied research. Culminated in a capstone seminar addressing complex governance and administrative challenges. Graduated with a 4.0 GPA.
Bachelor of Science in Psychology/
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Served as a Psychology Department Assistant and a Writing Center Tutor. Worked at a treatment center for at-risk youth and volunteered on city council and state legislative campaigns. Graduated Cum Laude.
High School Diploma
Served as Student Body President. National Honor Society Member. Extracurricular activities included Student Government, Drama, Mock Trial and Fencing.
