NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR 2026 LEADERSHIP TRAILBLAZER AWARD
By Editor
The League of Women in Government (LWG) is proud to announce that nominations are now open for the 2026 Annual Leadership Trailblazer Award. The award recognizes an accomplished woman who is a leader in the local government profession and has inspired other women to achieve executive-level positions as well. The 2026 Leadership Trailblazer Award will recognize an accomplished local government woman who has demonstrated leadership excellence and has mentored and championed other women within the profession.
The award is important as women are still widely underrepresented in top government positions. As of 2023, only 23% of city managers, county managers, and chief administrators in the US were women, according to the International City and County Management Association (ICMA) database. One way to encourage more women to seek local government leadership positions is by recognizing those who are trailblazers in the profession.
“Every year we are excited to see the fabulous women who are nominated and every year we are blown away by all of the talented women across the country,” said Susan Thorpe, LWG Executive Board President. “If previous years are any indication, we expect to see an outstanding group of nominations for 2026.”
To submit a nomination, fill out the form on the League website and describe how your nominee has promoted or inspired women to become local government leaders. A panel of judges from LWG will review each nomination to select up to ten finalists and one winner.
This year’s winner will be inducted into the League of Women in Government Hall of Fame alongside these amazing women:
2025 Trailblazer Emily Lewis, Deputy County Administrator, Charlotte County, Florida
2024 Trailblazer Stephanie Lucash, City Administrator, Edmonds, WA
2023 Trailblazer Valmarie Turner, City Manager, Roanoke, VA
2022 Trailblazer Anne Marie Gaura, Village Manager, Lincolnwood, Il
2020 Trailblazer Vanessa Donovan Hale, Assistant Town Administrator, Southborough, MA
2019 Trailblazer Lori Sassoon, Chief Talent Officer, Corona, CA
2018 Trailblazer Opal Mauldin-Jones, City Manager of Lancaster, TX.
Eligibility Criteria
• A colleague must submit nomination forms. You cannot nominate yourself.
• Nominees must hold a local government leadership position, such as City Manager/Administrator, County Manager/Administrator, Assistant City or County Manager, or Deputy City or County Manager.
• Elected officials and individuals in line departments such as police, fire, planning, etc., are not eligible.
• Nominees must have served at least eight years in local government and three years in a leadership role.
• Past nominees are eligible to be nominated again.
• LWG board members are not eligible.
Nominations deadline is November 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM (Pacific Time).
