SACRAMENTO, CA. – The office of Assembly Member Jeff Gorell today honored Jacqui Irwin as the 2012 Woman of the Year for the 37th Assembly District during a special Assembly ceremony at the State Capitol. Jacqui Irwin is currently serving her second term as mayor of Thousand Oaks, where she has been a city Councilmember since 2004. Mayor Irwin’s tireless involvement with community groups, non-profits, schools, and PTAs have made her a highly successful role model for women in Ventura County and throughout California.

“I am delighted that we were able to honor Mayor Jacqui Irwin as our Woman of the Year for 2012,” said Ernie Villegas, District Director for Assemblyman Gorell. “In choosing a candidate for this honor, we look to find the person who has given generously of their personal time to public service. The person must be outstanding in their dedication to the community.”

“It was a privilege to be in the company of the outstanding California women that were chosen to represent their communities,” stated Mayor Irwin. “I’m also very happy that Assemblyman Gorell is on his way home from Afghanistan, and I look forward to working with him on the many challenging issues that are facing our county.”

Held annually, the Woman of the Year ceremony celebrates California’s extraordinary women. Started in 1987 to help commemorate Women’s History Month, the event has become an annual Capitol tradition to salute community service. Honorees are presented with a framed certificate from the State Assembly recognizing their outstanding contributions during a special ceremony in the Assembly chambers.

A third generation naval officer, Assembly Member Jeff Gorell was called back to active duty by the U.S. Navy a year ago for deployment to Afghanistan. He currently holds the rank of Lt. Commander with the Navy (Reserve) as an intelligence officer and has previously served a tour of duty in Afghanistan shortly after the events of 9/11.

Mayor Irwin has an impressive list of public service and community involvements that include serving as President of the Thousand Oaks Titans Football Association, and Chair of the American Diabetes Association Bike Ride. She has also worked with the Conejo Schools Foundation. She is on the executive board for the Ventura County Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Ventura County Boy Scouts, the CSUCI Arts and Sciences Leadership Council, fundraising committee for the Girl Scouts of the Central Coast, and named 2011 Girl Scout Woman of Distinction. She has been chair of the American Cancer Society’s Bugatti Ball in 2011, and 2012 Gala event.