Cerritos Councilmember Carol K. Chen Finalist for National Leadership Award

The National League of Cities has announced that Cerritos City Councilmember Carol K. Chen is a finalist for the organization's Women in Municipal Government Leadership Award, which recognizes female municipal officials for their unique and outstanding leadership in local government.

Also a finalist for the award in 2011, Chen was nominated by Cerritos Mayor Jim Edwards, who noted in his application:

“Councilmember Carol Chen should be honored with the Women in Municipal Government Leadership Award for her extensive municipal accomplishments and her efforts to encourage women to become active in civic leadership. Councilmember Chen's leadership resulted in improvements to the City's services and environmental programs and implementation of successful economic development programs to help fund the City's operations. Councilmember Chen sets an outstanding example of successful municipal leadership and shares her expertise by continuously mentoring women who wish to serve their communities as elected officials and community leaders.”

According to Women in Municipal Government President Kathy F. Maness, who is also a councilmember in Lexington, South Carolina, “The Women in Municipal Government Leadership Award finalists showcase the best that female elected officials throughout our country have to offer in terms of their leadership, mentoring skills and public service. We congratulate the finalists and look forward to the announcement of the winner at the upcoming luncheon.”

Each year, the organization presents this award for individual achievement in initiating creative and successful programs in municipal government that help citizens, particularly if the leadership serves as a specific mentoring model for future female leaders.

The winner will be announced and honored along with the other finalists during the National League of Cities Congress of Cities on Nov. 30, 2012 in Boston.