Edith Ramirez, Assistant City Manager for Development Services in Morgan Hill, was recently named Woman of the Year for Assembly District 28 by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, recognizing her contributions to the growing Bay Area community.
Ramirez, who oversees planning, building, code enforcement, housing and economic development for the city, joins 11 other distinguished women from across the district in receiving this honor, which “highlights Ramirez’s exceptional leadership, dedication to public service and unwavering commitment to the Morgan Hill community,” according to a press release.
“I’m deeply honored by Assemblywoman Pellerin’s recognition,” Ramirez said. “This honor belongs to every woman in public service, those dedicated to building thriving communities.”
The recognition resonates personally with Ramirez’s life journey, she said.
“This honor resonates profoundly with my journey as an immigrant who arrived in this beautiful country at the age of 14 and received vital support from Sacred Heart Church,” she said. “This honor underscores the incredible opportunities this nation provides, and I am profoundly grateful that my career in public service has allowed me the privilege of giving back.”
Born in Mexico City before arriving in the United States, Ramirez credits an early experience with shaping her commitment to public service. When her family purchased their first home in a challenging neighborhood, she witnessed her father work with neighbors and police to transform the area despite language barriers.
“When our family was able to buy our first home, it was not in the best of neighborhoods,” Ramirez said. “People would approach the car as we were driving trying to sell us drugs. The first day we moved in, a big rock flew into the front window as a ‘welcome to the neighborhood.’”
She explained how her father’s initiative led to positive change: “My dad, despite his language barrier, reached out to our neighbors and SJPD, and using our home as a base, the neighborhood got cleaned up.
“I was 14 and I remember being scared seeing so many cops in our house. That experience taught the transformative impact we can have when we work together in community.”
Ramirez earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration from San Jose State University. In 2024, she completed Harvard Kennedy School’s Certificate in State and Local Government.
Ramirez began her career in public service as a policy advisor for San Jose City Council District Six under Vice Mayor Frank Fiscalini before joining the San Jose Redevelopment Agency for 11 years. For the past 13 years, she has focused on Morgan Hill’s development, spearheading initiatives that have resulted in more than 2 million square feet of new commercial and industrial space.
When asked about her proudest achievement, Ramirez emphasized relationships over specific projects.
“I am most proud of the strong relationships I’ve cultivated with my colleagues, the community, and the business sector,” she said. “I am grateful for the mutual trust and respect we share that enable us to collaborate effectively and even embrace risks when pursuing innovative approaches and programs. It’s this very trust and respect that fosters the environment we need to navigate challenges and consistently deliver our best.”
Ramirez identifies her mother as her greatest inspiration and mentor.
“I have been fortunate to have many mentors, but my mother stands as the most significant,” Ramirez said. “Her early years, raising 10 children while working six days a week, etched the importance of hard work into my very being. What’s truly remarkable is her continued spirit: even after her children were grown and my father passed, she bravely pursued painting, writing and a vibrant life at the senior center.”
She added, “Her strength knows no bounds—she even embraced a second chance at love at 80 and is about to celebrate 10 years. Even now, despite her age and slowing pace, my mom remains the vital heartbeat and enduring matriarch of our family.”
City Manager Christina Turner praised Ramirez’s contributions, stating, “Edith’s leadership and dedication to our city are truly inspiring. Her passion for public service and her ability to bring people together to solve challenges make her an invaluable asset to Morgan Hill.”
In addition to her Woman of the Year honor, Ramirez received a Silicon Valley Business Journal Latinx Award in 2024, and a Boy Scouts of America Character Award in 2021. She serves on the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley and the Visit Morgan Hill tourism board.
Ramirez lives in Morgan Hill with her two children.
