Alicia Hidalgo, City Clerk, City of Liberal, Kansas, has been selected as the recipient of the
2022 Mildred Vance City Clerk/Finance Officer of the Year for the State of Kansas. The
award was announced at the 72nd annual City Clerks and Municipal Finance Officers
Association of Kansas (CCMFOA) Conference in Manhattan, Kansas on Thursday, March
17th.
Alicia has worked for the City of Liberal for over 15 years, beginning her service as City
Clerk in 2015. Prior to being hired as City Clerk, Alicia held various positions for the City of
Liberal.
Alicia was instrumental in navigating the City of Liberal through the COVID pandemic,
apprising their City of the ever-changing laws and mandates. She is a trusted resource for
planning and decision making and is always willing to go the extra mile for the City’s
success.
Alicia serves on the Local Emergency Planning Board and is a member of numerous local
clubs and committees. She helped implement a community clean-up program to help local
organizations earn money for their programs; oftentimes volunteering her time on the
weekends to help.
Alicia is a member of CCMFOA and has served on the CCMFOA Education/Certification
Committee, the Education/Program Planning Committee and the Board of Directors. She
has served as an International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC) conference committee
member and was inducted in 2020 as an Athenian Fellow.
Alicia’s City Manager stated that she “embraces challenges, finds solutions, and maintains
relationships” to help make their City a better place. Outside of work, she would probably
say that her greatest joy comes from her two sons.
This award is presented each year to a City Clerk or Finance Officer who has made
significant contributions to the State association, the profession and their city. The award
was named in honor of Mildred Vance, former auditor and City Clerk/ Municipal Finance
Officer of Parsons, Kansas, who served her community from 1948 to 1988. Mildred was
instrumental in developing and promoting professional education programs for city clerks
and finance officers at the state and national levels and was one of the first 100 clerks to
receive the Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation in 1972. Mildred was later
accepted into the Academy for Advanced Education (AAE) and served as a director of IIMC.
She strongly believed that city clerks and finance officers should contribute to their
communities and she unselfishly gave of her time and talents in church, community and
civic activities.
To be eligible for the award, nominees must: 1) be a current Kansas city clerk or finance
officer who has held the position for at least 3 years; 2) be a member of CCMFOA for at
least 3 years; and 3) have attained the status of Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC); or have
received the GFOA Certificate of Achievement in Financial Reporting. Nominations may be
submitted by fellow city clerks, mayors, council members, city managers/administrators or
fellow employees.
A 5-member panel of judges reviews all nominations and rates candidates on a point
system. The Selection Committee consists of two prior year recipients of the award, the
Missouri Clerk/Finance Officers Association President, the Illinois Clerk Association
President and a League of Kansas Municipalities representative as assigned by the
Executive Director of the League.
