THOMPSON ANNOUNCES 2026 LAKE COUNTY WOMAN OF THE YEAR

Lake County, CA - On Sunday, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) announced that Voris Brumfield Reed was chosen as the 2026 Lake County Woman of the Year. Each year, Rep. Thompson chooses women from California's Fourth Congressional District to honor for their positive contributions to our community.

"Voris' passion, leadership, and determination have profoundly impacted our Lake County community," said Thompson. "Voris is a former Lake County supervisor and previously served as a lay pastor at both Middletown Community United Church and Kelseyville United Methodist Church where she worked to establish a weekly meal program. Through her position as the Lake County Geothermal Coordinator, she promoted underground utilities in Middletown and Lower Lake, wastewater collection in Middletown and Anderson Springs, and wrote the grants for the creation of the Anderson Springs Water System. Her community involvement goes beyond her participation in government - Voris is a co-creator and co-founder of both the Gibson Museum and Cultural Center, and the Anderson Springs Community Service District. I am proud to recognize Voris as Lake County's Woman of the Year."

Click here to read Rep. Thompson's full statement submitted to the Congressional Record in honor of Voris.

BACKGROUND

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.

Women's History Month has its origin in California's Fourth District. In 1978, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women coordinated a "Woman's History Week" during the week of March 8th to correspond with International Women's Day. In 1980, a group of Sonoma County women founded the National Women's History Project (NWHP) in Santa Rosa, California. The goal of this organization was to highlight and recognize the historical national achievements made by women.

In partnership with other women advocacy groups and historians, the NWHP successfully lobbied for national recognition in 1980, with President Jimmy Carter declaring the week of March 8th as National Women's History Week. After this accomplishment, the NWHP began advocating for the entire month of March to be designated as Women's History Month. Seven years later, Congress officially passed legislation designating the entire month of March as Women's History Month. Every year since, Women's History Month has been recognized in March to uplift and celebrate the incredible contributions and accomplishments of American women.

A complete list of 2026 winners includes:

• Voris Brumfield Reed - Lake County Woman of the Year
• Leslie Lew - Napa County Woman of the Year
• Margi Stern - Solano County Woman of the Year
• Maricarmen Reyes Larios - Sonoma County Woman of the Year
• Marisa Alcorta - Yolo County Woman of the Year