After the recent success of the California Contract Cities Association’s (CCCA) Annual Municipal Seminar, the organization announced the transition of president from City of Norwalk Vice Mayor Jenifer Perez, to City of Paramount Vice Mayor Brenda Olmos. PublicCEO had the chance to speak with both of these successful civic leaders and reflect on Perez’s legacy in her own words and look to the future under Olmos’s new leadership.

CCCA is a collection of member cities united for a common cause. Born in 1957 as the direct result of the “Lakewood Plan,” CCCA grew from eight contracting or member cities to 80 member cities today with more than seven million residents of member agencies. 

CCCA has seen growth from 2024-2025, and the association’s success was highlighted in its most recent Annual Municipal Seminar. The event had over 550 attendees and featured key speakers Gian Paul Gonzalez, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, Los Angeles County Supervisors Janice Hahn, Lindsey Horvath, Hilda Solis and Riverside County Supervisor Karen Spiegel. Additionally, other notable speakers were Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Tony Marrone and Riverside/CAL Fire Chief Bill Weiser.

The conference marked the culmination of former CCCA President Jennifer Perez’s work, stating that “serving as President of the California Contract Cities Association has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my public service career.” 

PublicCEO asked Perez to give some insight into her term as president.

“Looking back, the work I’m most personally proud of is strengthening the collective voice of our member cities when it comes to public safety and contract service reform,” she explained. “When many of our communities were facing uncertainty—whether from rising service costs, evolving public expectations or legislative pressure—we created space for honest dialogue and strategic advocacy.”

When asked about the driving force behind her efforts, she spoke about her “deep belief in the power of local governance.” She was dedicated to the principles of CCCA and believed that  “it was important not just to defend the model, but to proactively show its value.”

Perhaps less attention-grabbing, but equally important, Perez highlights the “behind-the-scenes coalition-building” CCCA accomplished. This work is “essential to long-term impact and aligns deeply with my personal values: equity, transparency and collaborative leadership,” she concluded.

Vice Mayor Perez will continue her service to CCCA as the immediate past-president supporting the term of newly elected president Vice Mayor Brenda Olmos from the City of Paramount.

President Olmos explained that she is guided by one of her core values: unity. Her presidential theme, “Communities Unidos” is “a reminder that successful advocacy for the contract model and local control depends on strong collaboration.” This is why she has made one of her primary goals to expand the reach of CCCA into more counties throughout the state. 

“It’s not just about representing cities; it’s about uniting them,” said President Olmos. “When cities come together and speak as one, we are far more effective in advancing policies that support our communities.”

As incoming president, Olmos and staff at the City of Paramount collaborated with CCCA staff to program the Annual Municipal Seminar. We spoke with Olmos on the importance of the seminar for her and moments that embodied the association’s aspects she most appreciates.

“It was incredibly special to share the moment with my family and colleagues,” said Olmos. “Our session ‘SoCal United: Lessons in Collaborative Leadership’ captured the very essence of CCCA’s mission [and] I was especially proud of the panel hosted by the City of Paramount, ‘Shared Goals, Shared Growth’ which emphasized how cities, school districts, and local chambers can align their efforts to better serve our communities.”

“CCCA was founded to protect and promote the contract model of service delivery,” she continued, and they “remain committed to strengthening these critical partnerships.” This was evident in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s panel on the role of Public Safety in contract model cities. 

Olmos highlighted the benefits cities receive when they are part of CCCA–how they can grow and achieve more than if the local government remains isolated. “CCCA provides our members with practical, timely tools that support their work back home,” Olmos said. “But perhaps the most valuable resources are the connections our members make with each other. Whether it’s through a panel discussion or an informal conversation between sessions, the exchange of ideas and real-world solutions is one of the most powerful aspects of being part of this association.”

She concluded, “The major advantage of CCCA can be summed up in four words: Education, Advocacy, Networking and Access. These pillars, proudly displayed on our website and embodied in our events, reflect what we offer cities every day—a platform to grow, a voice to be heard, and a network that stands united.”

Olmos is determined to grow the association to better serve its members and provide the tools necessary for their success. Her term as president will conclude in May 2026 at next year’s Annual Municipal Seminar.