The Texas Certified Public Manager Program and the Hobby Center for Public Service at Texas State University recently announced Ransom Canyon among two recipients of the Balanoff Good Government Award, a distinction honoring Texas municipalities that make good government not merely a goal, but a daily practice.
Named in honor of Dr. Howard Balanoff and Marilyn Balanoff, the award recognizes communities that live the values Texans expect from their local governments — strengthening public trust and inspiring others to raise the standard for serving their communities.
The town of Ransom Canyon and the city of Pharr were the two receipients of the award in 2026.
The awards were presented during the CENTEX ASPA Public Service Recognition Awards Luncheon
on Saturday, July 18, in San Marcos. Accepting the award on behalf of the Town of Ransom Canyon was City Manager Elena Quintanilla, and the City of Pharr was represented by Hilda Pedraza, Assistant City Manager.
Recipients were evaluated against the Ten Texas Traits of Good Government — a framework that calls on municipalities to be Respectful, Responsive, Effective, Transparent, Competent, Ethical, Lawful, Innovative, Economical, and Accountable. A judging panel assessed applicants, recognizing those organizations whose governance practices consistently reflect these values in service to their residents.
"This award exists because good government is not accidental — it is the result of people who show up every day with integrity, skill, and a commitment to the communities they serve. This year's recipients have demonstrated exactly that," said Dr. Miha Vindis, Director, Texas Certified Public Manager Program
The Balanoff Good Government Award is presented annually. Municipalities that apply but do not meet the scoring threshold receive written feedback from the judging panel to support continued improvement and are encouraged to reapply in a future award cycle.
Applications for the 2027 Balanoff Award will be accepted from Dec. 1, 2026, through Feb. 15, 2027. For more information on the Balanoff Award and how to apply, please visit the Texas CPM website at https://texascpm.com/balanoff-good-government-award/.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Town of Ransom Canyon recognized by state groups for good governance
