Born in 1952 in Hawthorne, California, Ken has been a Lancaster resident since 1956. Growing up in a working-class family and he learned early on of the importance of values and service to your community. He and his wife Rosemary are proud parents and grandparents.
With more than fifty years of experience in the hospitality industry, Ken has worked his way from part- time kitchen staff to restaurant executive. He currently serves as a restaurant business consultant for Denny’s Corporation and is the co-owner of Cali Cafe in Lancaster with his wife, Rosemary.
Ken’s record of community involvement is a testament to his unwavering commitment to helping others. Through his efforts, millions of dollars have been raised to aid children, families and the developmentally disabled in receiving quality care and assistance.
From 1988 until 1996, Ken sat on the Board of Directors of the Antelope Valley United Way, where he served as Campaign Chairman in 1992 and as Board Chairman in 1993. During this same period, he also served as a board member of the Children’s Center of Antelope Valley and twice as Campaign Chairman for the Boy Scouts of America.
In 1996, Mann joined the Board of Directors for Desert Haven Enterprises where he served three years as Chairman of the Desert Haven Auction and two years as Board Treasurer. He is also a past Chairman of the Board of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce.
Ken’s political career started with serving on the Lancaster Planning Commission for nearly two decades. He was initially appointed to a four-year term in 1992, serving until its completion in 1996. He was then re-appointed in 1997 and served five consecutive two-year terms as the Mayor’s appointment. He would be appointed a final time in April of 2006 to fill a 2-year vacancy on the commission.
He then ran for City Council in April 2008 winning a seat and then was re-elected in April 2012 and April 2016. From the time of his election he championed for the need on public projects to pay prevailing wages and benefits. More recently he was instrumental in the approval of the City’s Community Workforce Agreement with the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building & Construction Trades Council in 2018, protecting high-quality local jobs and career opportunities.
As a Council Member, Ken sits as a Board Member of the Lancaster Successor Agency as well as the City’s Housing, Financing and Power Authorities. Currently, he is also a Member of; Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District’s Governing Board, North County Transit Commission and Chairman of the Lancaster Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, better known as Destination Lancaster.
