Frisco Mayor Maher Maso nears end of final term

The Masos moved to Frisco in 1992. The small, young community of Frisco with a population of about 7,000 people caught the family’s attention.

“I always like to think of Frisco as a small town because it wasn’t that long ago that it was that small,” Maso said.

Maso is a self-proclaimed activist, getting involved quickly with his neighborhood’s homeowners’ association and Frisco ISD’s technology committee.

“It was kind of a phenomenon that I didn’t realize was happening, which was the more I did the more I enjoyed it,” he said.

Maso’s first run for City Council was in 1996 with a single-issue platform: opposing a proposed airport in Frisco. Maso lost the election, but the campaign to block the airport succeeded. He said he did not have an interest in running for Council again until enough people encouraged him to run in 2000. This time, he won the seat.

Maso said his first term on Council was an “interesting time.” Frisco’s population had grown to more than 33,000 people; Stonebriar Centre opened, dramatically growing the city’s sales tax revenue; and the council members at the time were split on deciding how to run the city.

During Maso’s terms as a council member through 2007, the city broke ground on what is now Dr Pepper Ballpark and announced that FC Dallas would come to Frisco.

Maso also began pursuing his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. At age 20, he was diagnosed with cancer. The cancer kept Maso from continuing his education, and between starting a family and running a business, he did not return to school. In the mid-2000s, Maso’s brother-in-law convinced him to return to college. So in 2008, Maso received a master’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington.

“You should never stop learning because it’s fun and it makes you a better person,” Maso said. “And I’m not done yet. Even after being mayor, I’m still going to look at additional education.”

In 2008, Maso was sworn in as mayor. Frisco reached numerous milestones during Maso’s mayoral terms, including announcing a partnership with the Dallas Cowboys, closing the Exide Technologies plant and settling on an agreement to bury power lines along Main Street. Maso said he is proud that Frisco has become destination for international business attraction as well as sports entertainment and sports medicine research.

Maso said he learned the mayor has to wear many hats: a spokesperson for the city, a representative of the residents, an international ambassador, an educator and a crisis manager. The next mayor has to understand that, he said, as well as remember to be a servant leader, check egos at the door and be a representative for the Council.

“It’s not rocket science,” he said.

As far as what he will do after leaving the mayor seat, Maso said he has not had time to think about it. Several people have approached him about seeking higher office, but he said he is not sure that is what he wants to do.

“Being the mayor is the best position I feel anyone could ever have,” he said. “You have the trust of your city, and you’re accomplishing things. …To me, I can’t see anything above being a mayor and being close to the people.”