WESTMINSTER, Calif. – The City of Westminster is proud to announce that City Manager Christine Cordon has been awarded the 2025 Ethical Hero Award by the California Affiliate of the International City/County Management Association (Cal-ICMA) for her commitment to ethical leadership and public service.
The high-profile award was presented to Cordon by Cal-ICMA President Kevin Woodhouse, City Manager of the City of Pacifica, during the League of California Cities City Managers Conference on February 12 in Napa, California.
“We are grateful for Christine’s strong leadership and commitment to our diverse city,” said Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen. “Every day, she lives her values and carries out her duties with integrity, collaboration, and transparency. Christine has worked hard to ensure that all elected officials and staff members understand their roles and work together to best serve the community. We feel lucky to have her here in Westminster.”
Cordon was recognized for her service-first mentality, commitment to accountability and transparency, and creating a culture of collaboration and support for staff members throughout the organization. Under her leadership, Cordon has helped the organization and community navigate complex, long-standing governance and operational challenges, resulting in award-winning projects for the City, advances in financial stability, and improved service delivery. Cordon believes that when City employees and elected officials succeed, the community as a whole succeeds.
Created in 2012 in response to the 2010 City of Bell scandal, the Ethical Hero Award is given only when an applicant has gone above and beyond to demonstrate a high level of integrity, commitment, and professionalism through an ethical dilemma, and is considered among the highest honors given by Cal-ICMA.
“Christine’s career reflects a deep commitment to public service and a service-first mindset,” said Alexandra Orologas, Chair of the Cal-ICMA Ethics Committee. “Ethical leadership is not easy, and it isn’t always rewarded in the moment, but it’s essential to the integrity of our profession.”
To learn more about the award, visit calicma.org/ethical-hero.
Learn more about the City of Westminster at westminster-ca.gov.