Thompson recognizes 2020 and 2021 Woman of the Year honorees
- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Congressman Mike Thompson has announced his selections for the 2020 and 2021 Woman of the Year awards.
Thompson has selected Crystal Martin as Lake County’s 2020 Woman of the Year, with Carol Huchingson named as the 2021 honoree.
Each year, Thompson honors women from the Fifth Congressional District who make exceptional contributions to our community.
This year, Thompson is honoring both his 2020 and 2021 women of the year, as last year’s celebrations were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Crystal Martin is a dedicated and tireless advocate for justice,” said Thompson. “As the Lake County District Attorney’s Victim-Witness Program administrator, she fights for victims day in and day out. Her work helps them heal and seek justice and she gives voice to the voiceless. We are so proud of her work and know that she’s improved our criminal justice system. I’m deeply honored to recognize her as Lake County’s 2020 Woman of the Year.”
“It is an incredible honor to be selected for this distinction,” Martin told Lake County News. “All the credit goes to my incredible group of friends Jodi Howe, Jodie Maize, Lynda Steely and Jennifer Taylor who made 100+ Women Strong in Lake County a reality and the amazing victim advocates I work with every day. We are fortunate to live in a community that takes care of its own!”
Martin has served at Victim Witness since February 2006 and has been the program administrator since 2017. She is married to Sheriff Brian Martin, and they have three children.
In honoring Huchingson, Thompson said, “Carol Huchingson is a bedrock of Lake County, serving first as director of Social Services for 22 years and now as the county’s administrative officer. Her work has helped people better connect to county services, particularly during disasters. And she’s been honored for her dedication to ensuring better participation in local government, even during the pandemic. It’s an honor to call her a friend and recognize her as Lake County’s 2021 Woman of the Year.”
Huchingson told Lake County News, “It is a great honor to be named among Congressman Thompson’s 2021 Women of the Year. Mike and I have had many opportunities to work together over 20-plus years, and Lake County could not have a stronger advocate, particularly in times of disaster. Being recognized by him carries special meaning, because he knows me and my work so well. It has been a true privilege to be entrusted with work of great consequence to Lake County residents for now almost 29 years. Every day, I try to be fair and bring my best to each interaction, and accomplish something that makes people’s lives a little better. The work is its own reward, but honors such as this, our 2020 CSAC Challenge Award, and my 2017 SBA Phoenix Award have meaningfully affirmed we are moving in a positive direction as a County.”
Huchingson has served as county administrative officer since April 2016. She is the first woman to hold the job.
The Woman of the Year Recognition Ceremony was started in honor of Women’s History Month to recognize the service of women in our community.
In addition to Martin, the 2020 winners for other counties in Thompson’s district are Annette Taylor, Solano County; Beth Bartke, Contra Costa County; Hope Lugo, Napa County; and Karissa Kruse, Sonoma County.
For 2021, besides Huchingson, Thompson also named winners Elizabeth Ann Hoffman, Contra Costa County; Eloise Escano Scott, Solano County; Letitia Hanke, Sonoma County; and Lydia Mondavi, Napa County.