ICMA’s Assistant Excellence in Leadership Award, which commemorates former ICMA President Buford M. Watson Jr., is presented to a local government management professional who has made significant contributions toward excellence in leadership while serving as an assistant (regardless of title) to a chief local government administrator or department head. Candidates must be members of ICMA, full-time assistants reporting to a chief local government administrator or department head who have been responsible for significant administrative duties for at least one year (not including internships in conjunction with an academic program), and endorsed by a CAO. This year’s recipient of the Assistant Excellence in Leadership Award is Frances A. Gonzalez, assistant city manager of San Antonio, Texas.