Borough Manager

Mason F. Villarma is the Borough Manager for the City and Borough of Wrangell, Alaska, and a fourth-generation Wrangellite. He grew up spending summers in Wrangell commercial fishing, earned his degree from Gonzaga University, and began his career at KPMG before returning home to join the Borough as Finance Director in 2021. He stepped into the manager's role in 2023, including leading the community through recovery from the November 2023 landslide.

Under his leadership, Wrangell has completed or advanced a broad slate of infrastructure and economic development efforts, including the Water Treatment Plant replacement, Public Safety Building rehabilitation, downtown waterfront development, the Wrangell Harbor Basin revitalization and transportation resiliency project, a municipally developed housing subdivision, a land exchange with the Alaska Mental Health Trust Land Office, and SEAPA's Wrangell solar project. He has also led numerous public-private partnerships, including one with JAG Marine Group to develop a large-scale vessel repair shipyard at the Borough's 6-Mile deepwater port, and efforts to structure and grow the Borough's tourism sector, tripling visitor activity since 2023. Mason has also been a vocal regional advocate for commercial fishermen and subsistence users affected by the booming sea otter population, pushing state and federal agencies for stronger management of the species.

Mason serves as vice chairman of the Southeast Alaska Power Agency (SEAPA) Board of Directors and is a member of the Gonzaga University Accounting Advisory Council. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting, fishing, and coaching the Wrangell High School cross country team.

*At each Borough Assembly Meeting, the Manager will provide a verbal report. For written reports from Departments, please visit the meeting to view. https://www.wrangell.com/meetings