HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-10-09 Athena Awards, Mary Hughes
MARY HUGHES
Athena Leadership Award 2025
WHEREAS, Mary Hughes is being honored with the 2025 Athena Leadership Award, which recognizes
exceptional women leaders who demonstrate the highest levels of professional excellence, give back to their
communities, and most importantly, assist other women in realizing their full leadership potential. The Palo Alto
Chamber of Commerce annually bestows the award to change-makers and trailblazers who open doors of leadership
for women in communities across the globe; and
WHEREAS, Mary has demonstrated a strong dedication to empowering women in politics. She started her career
studying American Studies at Mount Holyoke College, earning her JD at the University of Virginia School of Law.
Mary dove into politics after moving to the Bay Area in 1984. During this time, she served as the Executive Director
of the California Democratic Party and co-founded Staton Hughes, a political consulting company, which later became
Hughes & Company in 2009. Through this work, Mary has skillfully advised many candidates for elected office; and
WHEREAS, Mary served as Founder and Director of the 2012 Project, a campaign through the Rutgers Center
for American Women in Politics, advancing female representation in state and federal elected office by identifying
eligible women and supporting their campaigns. Subsequently, in 2013, Mary founded Close the Gap California. Close
the Gap is a statewide initiative that works to close the gender gap in the California Legislature by identifying
progressive women and providing comprehensive campaign strategy support; and
WHEREAS, Mary has also contributed to publications in leadership and politics, including “Keys to the
Governor’s Office” and “Win the Right Way,” as well as various writings in the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco
Chronicle and the Huffington Post.
NOW, THEREFORE I, Ed Lauing, Mayor of the City of Palo Alto, do hereby commend Mary Hughes for her
dedication to professional excellence, leadership, and community empowerment, and congratulate her as a 2025 Athena
Award Honoree.
Presented: October 9, 2025
______________________________
Ed Lauing
Mayor
Proclamation